The clouds are rolling in here and I think they are here to stay for the next couple days. We are supposed to have bad storms tonight then cold. Well, cold meaning tomorrow will be in the 50’s….but that’s a pretty big difference from the 82 degrees it was today!!! This afternoon I snacked on a half serving (1/4 cup) of Almond Ezekiel cereal with some orange segments. I may be a culinarian, but I still can’t peel an orange into perfect sections to save my life. It always comes out all chunky…but it still tastes good!
t for dinner I threw together one of my all time favorites. Heidi Swanson’s Lemon Scented Quinoa Salad. Tonight I believe this is now the fourth time I’ve made this (I’ve featured it before on the blog) and I just love it so much. It combines all my favorites—quinoa, chickpeas, red onion, tahini, garlic…….and forms it all into one substantial veggie meal! I don’t use as much red onion as she calls for because it can be a bit overpowering. I believe I always just throw in about a tbsp (eyeballing it) and it turns out perfect. I always make extra dressing too because that’s the best part! I LOVE tahini! This big salad is just a really great feel-good meal that never weighs you down.
With it, I had the last of my mom’s cabbage! I hope some of you make it–I never have actually because she always does for me, but the recipe looks really easy and I can attest to the fact that its purely addicting. I find myself mid-day in front of the fridge with a fork just to have a bite. I have a craving for it!
I’m off to school now. Tonight we are baking off our chocolate croissants and cinnamon buns. The kitchen should be smelling great tonight!
Oh! And one more thing! I finally got the thumbs up from BlogHer to start putting some tasteful ads on this site. I figure it can’t hurt and as we all know, I need the money to buy more groceries! I hope you all embrace the change…it won’t be up til probably early next week because I’m still in the process of signing the paperwork but I just wanted to let you all know in advance of what’s to come!
Emily
February 26, 2008 at 10:40 pmI was wondering if you notice a difference in your appetite level when it is warmer out versus when it is cooler out. I’ve noticed that I’m less hungry in the summer versus in the winter. I live in Maryland so it never gets very cold here but the summers sure are hot and humid!
VeggieGirl
February 26, 2008 at 10:53 pmI guess the cold-front is moving your way – stay warm!!
Ahh, yet another amazing dish from Heidi – I LOVE her recipes!!
I cannot wait to see photographs of those chocolate croissants and cinnamon buns – mmm, mmm, mmm! Decadence at its finest :0)
That’s wonderful about BlogHer!!! The ads will be a fun addition to your blog!!
Good luck at class tonight, and enjoy the rest of your Tuesday.
ashley
February 26, 2008 at 10:59 pmI might have just overlooked it, but I can’t find the vegan cookie recipe everyone is raving about in the recipe section and I really want to make it! Does anyone have the recipe?
Sam
February 26, 2008 at 11:13 pmJust curious, Jenna, or whoever knows. I don’t understand what blogher is? I see it everywhere. Do people make a lot of money from it? Jenna, you more than deserve it!
Romina
February 26, 2008 at 11:19 pmI made that salad once, but I didn’t really like the overwhelming flavour of red onions in it, so it killed the whole dish for me. But I promised myself I’d make it again, because the rest of it tasted AMAZING. Tahini dressings are incredible.
Emily W.
February 26, 2008 at 11:20 pmHere’s the recipe:
http://viveleveganrecipes.blogspot.com/search?q=chocolate+chip+cookie
However, mine did not come out looking like all the pics I have seen (like Jenna’s)…..mine look less like an average chocolate chip cookie and kind of like a puffed up oatmeal cookie…..I dont know why…..I used applesauce instead of oil….could this be my problem? They still taste good though! I am just looking for a really good, old fashioned chocolate chip cookie recipe, which this one seems to be. I think I may just need to make a few adjustments somewhere to get to that consistency?!!
Sam
February 26, 2008 at 11:23 pmoh, thought I should add, I have NO desire to start a blog (writing is not my thing).
Betsy
February 26, 2008 at 11:55 pmthat is such a wonderful recipe. i absolutely love that cookbook, and heidi’s website too. everything she posts is so wonderful and i want to make it all!
Emily W.
February 27, 2008 at 12:15 amI just ate dinner and had to get on and share my newfound “food item”:
Walnut Oil!
It is great on a salad and has less saturated fat than EVOO (although I still love EVOO!!)
Tina O.
February 27, 2008 at 12:18 amEmily~
I live in Cleveland, so I get all the seasons. In the summer, some days when its too hot, I can’t eat at all. It just makes me sick. So I always lose weight in the summer. A great new juice bar just opened, so at least I can have smoothies and light salads when its that hot. But when its winter, I can eat all day long! Lots of soups and stews and paninis, desserts (that I bake) with tea. mmmmm.
Megs
February 27, 2008 at 12:32 amEmily W –
I made the cookies and tried to use applesauce instead of oil and they came out puffy if that makes sense. Not looking like a typical cookie! I am trying to get better with adding healthy fats (i had eating issues) and I read Jenna’s comment of “canola oil is healthy fat that your body needs and wants” and re-made them and they were perfect.
I have even added mix of raisins and choco chips and mixed in oats too! YUM-O
Evie
February 27, 2008 at 12:48 amI LOVE red cabbage.. I’m so trying your mom’s recipe soon Jenna!
OH, bad weather blows, but hey, no climate is perfect… don’t worry, I’m sure that the weather will be nice again in no time. 🙂
Let us know how your baked goods turn out.. probably, yummy looking, as always!
A question, for anyone who wants to answer:
I’m looking to purchase a food processor, but here’s the thing, I’m on a budget! So, I was wondering which brand/make of food processors you guys have and/or recommend?
Preferrable something between 50-80 bucks, no more than 100, if possible!
Megs, your add-ins sound good! Would you mind sharing your recipe (measurements)?
Emily W.
February 27, 2008 at 12:48 amI enjoy eating healthy fats, but I like to experiment with lower fat baked goods to try to help my dad lose some weight! I will have to try the with oil next time!! Thanks for the advice so I have some direction!
Lisa
February 27, 2008 at 12:59 amI just made some quinoa tonight for dinner for the first time! LOVED IT! It’s a great alternative to regular brown rice or couscous!
VeggieGirl
February 27, 2008 at 1:09 am**Tina O.:
You’re in Cleveland, OH???? Me too!!! :0D
LT
February 27, 2008 at 1:22 amhk – i’m not a stalker i swear! but you said you’re in Austin, which is where I’m from…just wondering if you go to UT?? I’m a junior at A&M (I knowwww…don’t judge me though!)
Nicole
February 27, 2008 at 1:33 amHey Evie–
I have a mini Cuisinart good processor–I’m pretty sure it cost me somewhere around $30 (? i bought it 4 years ago as a freshman) from bed & bath. it’s smaller than a full-size (obviously…hence mini haha), but for my purposes as a student it’s great!! any time i need to blend larger recipes, i just do it in small batches and its not a problem. I love it!
Nicole
February 27, 2008 at 1:33 am*FOOD processor…it’s GOOD too, but that’s not what i was going for haha—freudian slip!
Lynn
February 27, 2008 at 1:47 amOH MY! I just made Dreena’s vegan cookies, soooo goooood!
Mine turned out a lil more biscuit-y than others, not sure why, but they still were absolutely delicious! MMmmmM!
Annie
February 27, 2008 at 1:55 amHey Everyone! I was wondering if any one knew anything about Macrobiotic Eating. My step mom came home today and told me we were invited to a Macrobiotic Dinner party, and I have no idea what to expect. Is it the same thing as a vegan diet? I feel like I remember that they arent allowed to cook anything, or theres certain “rules” about cooking, but I really dont know anything about it or what to expct. Thanks everyone!
Kelly
February 27, 2008 at 1:59 amHey LT- I graduated from A&M. Class of 05′ WHOOP! 🙂 Love Aggieland! I was on the equestrian team there.
Alli W.
February 27, 2008 at 2:01 amGood for you Jenna! You deserve to make some money for all the work you put into this (although I’m sure it’s not as much as you deserve…)
Lisa
February 27, 2008 at 2:05 amHi everyone,
My name is Lisa from California! I’ve been following different blogs, but this is my first comment here!
After seeing all this quinoa talk, I just had to try it myself this weekend. I. Love. It. I was pleasantly surprised with the texture. I thought it would be coarse, but it was fluffy! I made my version of the stir-fry, but I had fresh oranges on hand, so I subbed pineapple juice with oranges, and used some balsamic vinegar to flavor the quinoa, added some black beans, peppers, onions, and cilantro at the end. It was a bright tasting dish that I’m excited to eat all this week.
I also subbed the canola oil with applesauce. While the taste was great, I’m wondering if I could actually play with the cake-y texture and add some oatmeal to the cookie to make into an chocolate chip oatmeal cookie. What do you all think?
Happy eating!
Moni
February 27, 2008 at 2:10 amCould someone tell me where to find the red cabbage recipe?
Lisa
February 27, 2008 at 2:13 amAnnie,
Macrobiotic diet actually isn’t vegetarian or vegan, because they do eat certain seafood (mainly fish).
Here’s a link about it:
http://www.macrobiotics.co.uk/macrobiotics.htm
LT
February 27, 2008 at 2:32 amAwesome, Kelly! I actually know a few girls on the team now…
I’m from Austin and although I love C.S., it’s frustrating not to have alllll the hippie dippie natural foods stores like back in Austin. And there’s no really good or cool restaurants! (both are prob. good so i don’t spend $). I (plan to) graduate May ’09 & am a finance major…hope “the real world” is treating you well so far!!
Ashley H
February 27, 2008 at 2:32 amHI Lisa I definitly think you could add oatmeal to those cookies. I would just sub oatmeal for some of the flour.
*also try googling vegan oatmeal cookies I came up with some pretty great ones!
Lisa
February 27, 2008 at 2:41 amAshley H,
Do you think the cookies would require a little more liquid if with oats? Or less?
Natalie
February 27, 2008 at 2:44 amIt’s probably right in front of me, but could someone direct me to Jenna’s mom’s cabbage recipe? I looked in the “recipe” section and couldn’t find it.
ibex hk
February 27, 2008 at 2:45 amhaha hey LT- yea I’m at UT…boo aggies 🙂 Going to be in Austin any time soon?
Betsy
February 27, 2008 at 2:51 amTina O.-
where in Cleveland are you from? That’s where I grew up!!!
Ashley
February 27, 2008 at 3:03 amSo quick question for all you girls, I just looked up how many calories I should be eating per day because I’m trying to live healthy without being too strict on myself and I wanted a ballpark range (i’m 5’9, 125, small frame) and it says 1756 just to maintain my weight at a sedentary activity level (which i’m not, I work out a min of 35 min a day, I just wanted to see the baseline) that seems really high! Does this sound right to you? Does anyone have similar stats to me, if anyone does, is this ballpark your intake? Thanks, I really appreciate the help!
VeggieGirl
February 27, 2008 at 3:07 am**Betsy:
I too live in Cleveland – where did you grow up?
Betsy
February 27, 2008 at 3:15 amno way!!!! i’m from cleveland heights. you?
Amanda M
February 27, 2008 at 3:25 amHi Ashley,
I am 5’9″ and 130-135 lbs and work out at least 5 times a week. I have been told to eat around 2000 calories to maintain my weight, so I would think that anywhere from 1700-1900 calories seems normal for you too!
Amanda
LT
February 27, 2008 at 3:34 amyep, for spring break..we have a boat on lake austin so that’s my free spring break vacation while all my friends are on cruises or at the beach! what are you doing/where are you from?
Becca A
February 27, 2008 at 3:55 amMoni…I think the cabbage recipe was in the comments for Jenna’s breakfast today, if I remember correctly…
sperly
February 27, 2008 at 4:00 amAshley,
just to give you a flip side of the story.. I’m just shy of 5’0″ and I have to eat at least 2500 to maintain. I’m a distance runner, but still – being so short I don’t burn that much! 1700 is NOT really high at all, but it may seem like a lot if you’ve been limiting yourself in the past.
Hope you figure out what works best for YOU! Good luck!
ally
February 27, 2008 at 4:16 amHey jenna- do you ever check out VegWeb? They have a bunch of great recipes!
Meghan
February 27, 2008 at 4:21 amAshley, we must be similar sizes because I’m an inch shorter and about 5 pounds less. The calculator I used said 1700 if I was just sitting around all day. When I put in “moderately active” it said 2300! I was astonished. I am a college student and I do walk A LOT and run about 2-4 miles a day, about 6 days a week (about a 7.5 min/mile), but still….
Anywho, Jenna, you’ve really inspired me to make quinoa! I’ve never tried it, but I’m super excited to!
Kristin S
February 27, 2008 at 5:25 amJenna, have you posted the cabbage recipie yet?
Also I was wondering if you had any good recipies that use leafy greens (kale for example). I know how good for you they are, except I don’t know how to cook them! I’d rather try something that has your stamp of approval than a random recipie off the internet!
Kelly L.
February 27, 2008 at 2:37 pmLT- Is the Brazos Valley Health Food Store still there? It was/is on Texas driving towards Bryan. I agree with you though on not a huge selection of healthy choice places. I always loved Blue Bake and McCalisters. Obviously you have to know what to order (and I’m sure you do) but they had some good all around healthy soups and sandwiches. I used go to Cheddars alot and get their grilled tilapia with green beans and a baked potato (dry) just ask for the butter on the side. The big ol’ chain of Chili’s (yes they are everywhere) has a fabulous black bean burger on a wheat bun. I like to get that with a cup of tortilla soup instead of the fries. YUM!