Thursday, November 30, 2006

A few good eats...

Blah. Blah blah blah. There has been sickness and laziness and fatigue at our house since the weekend. Saturday evening, Bob started feeling sick to his stomach. Then Sunday his stomach was okay (relatively), but he was just sick and sore and achy all over. And I didn't feel too hot either on Sunday. Monday we both stayed home from our classes/jobs; neither of us felt like eating much. I had a headache on Monday too, and it persisted through yesterday. I'm feeling tons better today, thank goodness. I think the weather we've been having--55 degrees and sunny one day, 75 and rainy the next--has been causing it, at least partly.

Hence, no cooking or posting. What we have eaten this week has been leftovers, and they're about gone now. And on Sunday I went to a friend's birthday party, which was a tea party. She made a whole platter of vegan tea sandwiches (Tofutti cream cheese, cucumbers, sprouts), and since I was the only vegan there, I ended up taking home all the leftover vegan sandwiches (and all the other leftover vegan goodies--scones, ginger cookies, coconut cookies... wow). Monday, those sandwiches were about the only thing I could stomach to eat, so it was a very wonderful thing that they were sitting in my refrigerator.

Yesterday I finally made Dreena's Banana Bliss Pancakes from Vive!, which I had been intending to make again for quite a while. I've posted about these before, but they are so good that they merit another look:



I asked Bob to make me some soup for dinner last night, but then he reminded me that he had thawed out some pizza dough. So pizza it was. It was definitely tasty, as our homemade pizza always is. I know pineapple on pizza is controversial, but Bob and I love it. I wasn't very hungry, but it was delicious just the same. Broccoli, mushrooms, and pineapple chunks, along with some tofu ricotta and the wonderful pizza sauce from VWaV.

After reading Leslie's recent post about it, I got it in my mind and have not been able to shake it. Easy Caramel Sauce from Vive! So last night after dinner, as Bob was kneading a loaf of bread, I finally got in the kitchen and made some of the caramel sauce. Wow... This stuff is incredibly tasty, and the consistency is just perfect. It was great on apple slices. I used demerara sugar, which gave it a very light color. I'm used to light colored and light flavored caramel sauces, so this tasted like what I expected. Maybe sometime I will try it with a darker sugar like Leslie did to see the difference.

And today for lunch, I made a quick hummus. I've been meaning to do that for a while now too. I used:

1 can chickpeas
3 tablespoons tahini
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic
Fresh dill, fresh parsley
Sea salt & freshly ground pepper



That's more tahini than I have used in the past, and I think from now on I will keep to my 2 tablespoon standard. The tahini tastes just a little too strong in this hummus. I threw in the dill and parsley mostly because I had it and wanted to use it up, and I added the extra lemon juice (I usually only use half that much) to contrast with the strong dill flavor. Very tasty. I had it on an open-faced sandwich with cucumbers and mushrooms for lunch. Now the dishes are piled up by the sink, and I hate washing the food processor. Ugh. Oh well, it was worth it.

Time for me to run to class. I'm going to catch up with you all very soon, now that I'm feeling up to it. Take care and enjoy the day!

9 comments:

Carrie™ said...

I hate washing the food processor too. I don't know why. It's not a difficult task, but I just don't like it. Last week I sliced my hand open on the blade, so that added to my crankiness.
The weather here in Ontario has been all wonky too and everyone seems to be sick. One day I'm wearing my winter coat because it's so cold and frosty and the next day, it's practically T-shirt weather. Tomorrow is December and we haven't even had any snow yet!
Oh, and your pizza....YUMMERS! Pizza is one of my very favorite things - but I'm a no-pineapple pizza person. Love pineapple, just not on pizza. But broccoli is rockin'.
Hope you're feeling better soon.

bazu said...

Hey, count me in as a pineapple pizza person. It's yummy. Maybe one day I'll try it with some veg. Canadian bacon for hawaiian pizza...
I hope you guys feel better. I think you are right and the weird weather might be the culprit. Why is it so warm here...?
I was looking up your gingerbread cookies recipe, since I've been craving those lately- thanks so much for posting those.
And how lucky to have gotten all those leftover treats from the party- sounds great!

Get some rest and feel better!

Anonymous said...

I'm going to have to make that caramel sauce again. I made it once and it turned out horribly...but I must have done something wrong if both you and Leslie have had such good luck with it.

aTxVegn said...

Sorry you two were sick, but glad you're feeling better now.

Boy, you really scored on the take home treats! I think your pizza looks fabulous. I don't normally put pineapple on mine, but I would sure eat it!

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to hear you aren't feeling too well and I hope you're all good in no time. The pizza looks so yummy. I am a big fan of pineapple on pizza and luckily, Marty will scarf down anything. Just curious, what recipe did you use for the tofu ricotta?

I like the look of the lighter caramel sauce. I haven't tried it yet but I think I'll do it. I just bought a bag of granny smith apples and that would be perfect!

Candi said...

Sorry you were both feeling ill recently. I'm happy you're back to eating! :)

Looks great. Oh, I haven't had pizza in awhile!! I really want some now.

We have yet to try the caramel sauce!

Hummus is so good. I've used too much tahini before too. lol!

You're lucky to have a food processor, even though it's a pain to clean! I've wanted one for awhile, but have to wait until I move. I've wanted one for so long, that I probably won't mind cleaning it out!! :P

Glad you're better now!!!

Nikk said...

I am very pro pineapple on pizza. I'm pro anything on pizza...except for anything 'meaty' and onions.

MeloMeals said...

Hope you all are feeling better..

I adore pineapple on pizza.. mmm

your holiday food looked amazing! (a few posts back)

funwithyourfood said...

I'm sorry to hear everyone's not feeling to well. Get well soon though!


Teddy