Yum! For dinner tonight I made another one-dish wonder–Heidi Swanson’s Caramelized Tofu. I’ve made this before and LOVED it so I decided to put a new spin on it tonight by adding quinoa (it appears I’m obsessed!) and cauliflower into the mix. This is such an easy and tasty recipe. I just love the way the brown sugar caramelizes onto the tofu and bits of toasted walnuts. Delicious!!
So, it seems I should have eaten the extra slice of pizza after all, because an hour later I was starving! I was at the library, so I stopped in the little cafe (which has a whole vegan/vegetarian menu!) and ordered a small decaf soy latte. Hit the spot for the next few hours until I snacked on an apple and pb while studying for my practical tonight.
It just seems wrong to have to go to school til midnight on a friday night. I’m going home on Sunday for the night though so I have that to look forward to! Just need to make it through tonight’s practical and tomorrow night at work then its home to the lay by the pool for the afternoon!!
Hope you all have a safe and wonderful friday evening!
Erica
February 22, 2008 at 10:34 pmYour dinner looks amazing as always! Are you going to post your version of the recipe?
I had a (probably stupid!) question regarding quinoa – how to do rinse it? Do you put it in a pot and rinse it? Thanks Jenna!!
Sarah
February 22, 2008 at 11:43 pmYummo!! That looks so wonderfully delicious!! I love the color of the brussell sprouts all mixed in with everything else…if I wasn’t still full from supper, I’d be drooling right now. haha…:)
Hope your Sunday night comes quickly for ya! 🙂
VeggieGirl
February 22, 2008 at 11:44 pmOh, I LOVE Heidi’s recipes – she has such a wonderful selection of them, on her blog. Your dinner looks divine!
I agree – it IS wrong that you have to go to school until midnight on a Friday (or have to go to until until midnight, period). Hang in there, and just remember that the weekend is just hours away!! :0)
Romina
February 22, 2008 at 11:48 pmHeidi’s recipes are fabulous! I love everything she makes, and she has so many vegan options. And half the time the vegetarian ones can be veganized.
Sorry to hear you were hungry after your pizza. There probably wasn’t enough protein to keep you going.
Mm. Apple and peanut butter keep me going for a few hours. I think peanut butter is fantastic as a snack! Despite people thinking it’s high in calories, it’s so nutrient dense and has the right proteins and fats to keep you full. =)
ibex hk
February 23, 2008 at 12:35 amwow, that’s what i call a beautiful meal! seriously!!!! I’m so excited to make this one, yummmm! good luck on the practical, you’ll knock ’em dead!
rest up, I can’t believe how long your nights go!!
Beth
February 23, 2008 at 12:55 amWhat do you all think of Annie’s Goddess Dressing? It’s my favorite but I’m afraid it may be too high in fat…
Kay
February 23, 2008 at 1:34 amJenna and everyone:
What foods or combo of foods do you find most filling?
Lori- the pleasantly plump vegan
February 23, 2008 at 1:38 ami gotta try that tofu. sounds like something i would LOVE.
Kay
February 23, 2008 at 1:43 amJenna,
About the migraines… do you use a night guard for your teeth when you sleep? I have recently restarted using one because I grind my teeth at night and according to my dentist it may be contributing or worsening my migraines. I just want them to stop 🙁 Sometimes they are so bad I just want to cry.
I have read that some people start to crave sweets a few hours or even a few days before their migraine episodes, do you experience anything like that?
Well, I am going to put my night guard and go to sleep soon…. looking like a football player…
falafel
February 23, 2008 at 1:49 amsource for tip of the week? read something along the lines that fruit eaten in combo with other things renders the nutritional value of fruit & veggies null…so was researching then saw your tip. just wondering.
Amy C.
February 23, 2008 at 2:20 amI hope your class goes well tonight, Jenna!
Kay, I find any of the nutbutters to be really filling when I combine them with a whole wheat bread. In the morning, oatmeal and banana or cereal with hempmilk keeps me full for a while.
I’m so excited to cook and bake this weekend! I’m making the lower fat banana bread and bbq tofu from my new, precious Veganomicon and the vegan chocolate chip cookies from Vive le Vegan. I am pumped! Hopefully they turn out as good as Jenna’s!
Betsy
February 23, 2008 at 2:56 amKay
I think a combo of carbs and protein is super key. but for me, the key protein is always peanut butter peanut butter peanut butter. I love it and put it on everything, in everything, eat it out of the jar (in moderation-kinda). A really good pb&j on good bread with natural jam (no crap in it besides fruit) is just the best. The protein in nuts is really great, and the fat in it keeps you full too. And there’s nothing like a banana and peanut butter. Man-this is turning into an ode to peanut butter. When I lived in Spain after college, a bunch of friends who were Australian/English asked me what I missed most about the States, and I, without hesitation, said peanut butter. They were all in shock.
Oh-I hope you actually like it.
Nicole
February 23, 2008 at 2:57 amThe vegan chocolate chip cookies are AMAZING. Literally, amazing. I made some this afternoon, and my roommate (an epic carnivore who could probably orate on the joys of bratwurst) almost ate the entire sheet. Delicious—way better than any other chocolate chip cookie I’ve ever baked. And I’m a baker—I’ve made a LOT of chocolate chip cookies.
Amy C.
February 23, 2008 at 3:00 amNicole, that’s great to know! Once I shovel out tomorrow I’m off to buy the ingredients. 🙂
Sam
February 23, 2008 at 5:06 amJenna, do you buy frozen or fresh Brussels sprouts? Do you think frozen veggies can be roasted? Thanks and hope you can enjoy your weekend!
jenna
February 23, 2008 at 1:26 pmfalafel,
I’m embarrassed to tell you that I really don’t remember. I like to go to barnes and noble and grab a big stack of cookbooks/nutrition books and skim through them all and it was then when I found the tip. It might have been Marion Nestles “how to eat” since I was reading that recently or another one. I’m sorry!!!!!
Sam,
I wouldn’t try to roast frozen brussels sprouts. I can’t imagine how that would work because when they defrost they let out water and you have to have a dry product to roast so the sugars in the food can caramelize. I would def. invest in some fresh veggies for that!!
Natalie
February 23, 2008 at 4:30 pmHello! I have a question about tofu for anyone that can answer it. When Jenna makes her tofu recipes (like the caramelized tofu) does she do the whole draining, book on top thing to it before cooking with it? I’m a newbie with tofu…I tried cooking it once and it turned out quite unpleasant- but I didn’t do the draining thing.
jenna
February 23, 2008 at 4:32 pmNatalie,
Right after I come home from the grocery store with my tofu, I immediately do the “book on top thing” while I put the rest of my groceries away. Then, I slice it into four slices and put each one in a baggie and toss it in the freezer. When I want to make tofu for dinner during the week I just defrost a slice in the fridge or in a pan of hot water for a few minutes! Hope that helps….it really does make a HUGE difference!! I used to HATE tofu because of the texture but now I’m addicted….
Natalie
February 23, 2008 at 4:36 pmI know I saw this somewhere in your blog, but for how long does the book sit on top?
Oh, I bought the Sunshine burgers to try after your rave, the Southwest flavor I think. They have jalapenos in them and they definately give a nice kick!!
jenna
February 23, 2008 at 4:42 pmI usually leave the book on top for 30 minutes. Hope that helps!
jenna
February 23, 2008 at 4:42 pmoh, and the heavier the book the better! Sometimes I do a heavy book AND a cast iron skillet!