Okay…so lunch proved less than fab, but the BANANA BREAD I made this afternoon made up for it 10 times over!!! Seriously, it was sooo amazing and low fat because the recipe only called for 1/4 cup canola oil and 1/4 cup applesauce! I think its the best I’ve ever made. Seriously. The recipe I used was out of Veganomicon (this book is 3 for 3 now with amazing recipes!!!) and I’ll post it in the recipes section for those of yall that don’t have this one. But, seriously, you SHOULD have this book. Vegetarian or not….its so freakin good! I baked the bread and then went to the gym to do some weight lifting and core exercises while it cooled. It was a sure test of my will power to leave that hot steaming banana bread on the counter while I went to the smelly old gym, but I told myself if I had a good workout I could come home and have a big ol’ slice for a snack! So, that’s what I did! I worked out and then came home and toasted up a thick slice and smeared it with Earth Balance spread. Unbelievable. I also had a small glass of hempmilk to wash it all down with! My roommate tried it and loved it as well (it WAS made with her smelly black bananas, after all!). I def. recommend you trying this one!
As for dinner—I finally made the wonderful meal I was craving!! I used a very simple recipe out of Veganomicon for “baked bbq tofu”, which really only was baking your tofu then smothering it with your favorite bbq sauce (i used whole foods tangy bbq sauce) and baking it again. Delicious, tangy and easy!!! I also made roasted cauliflower and brussel sprouts (rubbed with olive oil, salt and pepper and roasted for about 20 minutes at 350) and simple brown rice. The meal was very satisfying and nutritionally “squared” with my protein, carbs and veggies.
Okay—off to school to bake bread!!!! Tonight I believe we are making just a simple white bread. So strange that my day is kind of just beginning right now, as I will be at school til probably 11:45 tonight!!!
I have to say—the veggies were the best part!! I LOVE roasted veggies! Especially brussel sprouts!! MMmm!!
VeggieGirl
February 19, 2008 at 10:41 pmI’m telling you, Veganomicon is amazing – I’m SO glad that you tried that banana bread recipe – looks wonderful!! Oh and hempmilk is a must, as an accompaniment to baked goods. I never eat baked goods without having a glass of hempmilk to wash it down! Haha.
Okay, okay, I KNOW I keep saying that everything is my obsession, but seriously, brussels sprouts ARE my obsession – I eat them everyday!! No exaggeration!! So, brussels sprouts ARE indeed on my obsession-list, along with hempmilk, carob, hazelnut-butter… the list goes on :0)
Have fun tonight at class!! Try to stay awake!! :0D
Carrie
February 19, 2008 at 10:42 pmHi, Jenna,
I asked this before but I think it got lost in the sea of posts … :0)
Do you think there is a good way to “chocolate-ify” your olive oil cake? I made it for my brother and his fiancee the other night and they loved it and asked if I could make it chocolate for their wedding in June!
It will be a small, casual wedding, so I really want to give it a try. I thought I could top it with some raspberry topping or something …
Any suggestions? Thanks!
Carrie
jenna
February 19, 2008 at 10:44 pmthe funny thing is i used to DESPISE brussels sprouts when I was a kid. I mean, really hated them. I would hide them in my napkin to make my mom think I ate them all! But then, recently actually, I became absolutely ADDICTED to them!!!!! Its so strange! I tried one for the first time since I was like seven a month or so ago, and now can’t stop eating them! I think roasting them is my absolute favorite preparation. These guys were huge (found them at W.F.!) and literally melted in my mouth after roasting. So, So, SOOO good!!! (and good for you!)
jenna
February 19, 2008 at 10:45 pmCarrie!
Sorry! Umm……I just don’t know how the flavors of that one would work out. Chocolate + olive oil doesn’t seem to go. I would make a test one BEFORE the wedding so you can taste it! The reason I love that cake so much is because its so simple. But who knows? chocolate might be good. Def. go for a trial run first and let me know how it is!!!!
ibex hk
February 19, 2008 at 10:48 pmholy moleeee!! I love everything about that meal! I’m so excited to make a new banana bread recipe, and mmmm you’ve given me a great idea for dinner. Seriously, roasted cauliflower are the two veggies that I LOVE most, great ideas tonight! I’m so glad that this meal made up for the lunch, you’ll get the hang of the “cheese” soon!! Enjoy tonight!
Carrie
February 19, 2008 at 10:49 pmThanks so much, Jenna. I’ll try it and let you know. And thanks for all your hard work on your blog. Someone said they couldn’t wait to buy your cookbooks … Neither can I!
Christie
February 19, 2008 at 10:51 pmJust wondering how many servings the banana bread makes, and does it come with the nutritional content.
Thanks
blueberrybabe
February 19, 2008 at 10:53 pmthis is just a little random response i wanted to write after everyone posted about eating disorders this afternoon: not all people who are trying to gain weight have eating disorders 🙂 that is all.
so i still haven’t found any other new yorkers on this site! what is up with that? it is cold and stinky here as usual but next week i will be on VACATION in FLORIDA!!! watch out jenna i might come stalk you 🙂
linds
February 19, 2008 at 10:54 pmI freaking love brussels sprouts. Try cutting them in half, tossing them with equal amounts olive oil and balsamic vinegar and a little salt and pepper, and roast them at like 400 for 20 minutes or so. The leaves that fall off get crispy and the halves get sweet and caramelize because of the balsamic and ohhh my god they are so good!!
Jess
February 19, 2008 at 10:58 pmJenna, you are SO right roasted veggies are AMAZING! I always make the ‘roasted veg’ dish for big family events (think thankgiving, christmas, etc- pretty much the only non-meat dish on the table! ugh). My faves are definately brussel sprouts, broccoli, and caulliflower. Do you have a favorite vegetable?
-jess
BethT
February 19, 2008 at 11:12 pmI looooooove roasted veggies, and my new fave is roasted string beans and/or roasted sugar snap peas!!! Toss with some chopped shallot and throw in the oven….YUM. Totally changes the flavor in a good way!
Amy C.
February 19, 2008 at 11:13 pmYour dinner and snack are all of my favorite things! Banana bread, bbq tofu, brussel sprouts… YUM! As soon as a couple of my bananas get ripe enough I’m making the bread. I actually just ordered the cookbook too. Between you, Veggiegirl, and the great reviews on Amazon I knew I had to get it. 🙂
VeggieGirl
February 19, 2008 at 11:19 pm**Amy C.:
Hooray!! You will NOT be disappointed with your purchase – enjoy the cookbook!! :0D
Emma
February 19, 2008 at 11:21 pmcan you post the calorie count for your banana bread? I know you don’t like to do that but i’m really curious! thanks jenna!
Annie
February 19, 2008 at 11:22 pmBlueberrybabe…Im So Jealous! Where in Florida are you going? Im in Boston, so I know what your talking about with the bad wether. At least today the sun was out!
And regarding all the comments about the ED discussions, its part of our society now. So many women struggle with eating issues, wether to much, to little, trying to find a balance is part of life. Wether a person has taken it to the extreme to be classified as an ED, or there religiously counting calories, most people have some sort of obsession with eating. I dont see anything wrong with us talking about it, and I am sorry it bothers some people, but it is really helpful to be able to get help and opinions from others in the same position. So, thanks to those who are supportive, and I am sorry to those who are “dealing” with our ED discussions.
I know that I look to blogs like Jennas because it is inspirational, and it shows me what I should be striving to eat like. A person who suffers from restrictive eating forgets what a “normal” day of eating really is like, and to have a person like Jenna modeling that to us every day, is truly a great help. I can mimick some of the things she is eating, and I know that I am making some progress. I dont know about others who read the blog and why they do, but I know that is my biggest reason, to have a good model to base my meals off of and get healthy, balanced ideas.
Annie
February 19, 2008 at 11:24 pmFor everyone loking for calorie counts on the bread, I know you can go to sparkrecipes.com and they have a “recipe calculator” wher eyou plug in all the ingredients and then divide it by the number of servings you want.
Nicole
February 19, 2008 at 11:34 pmBlueberry–where in new york are you from? I just go to school in Boston, but I’m from NY and I’m RUNNING back as soon as I’m done with school.
Becca A
February 19, 2008 at 11:40 pmThats funny Blueberry Babe…I’ll be in South Beach next week for vacation…I’ll be doing a lot of homework while I’m there, but I’ll be out of PA for a few days.
Heather S
February 19, 2008 at 11:45 pmOk this might be a really stupid question but how do you roast veggies in the oven? Ha ha as you can see im not much of a cook but im learning!
Susan
February 19, 2008 at 11:54 pmVeggiegirl, just curious why do you choose to eat larabars etc everyday versus a banana and pb for snack. I am thinking of buying a larabar, but the closest store to me is far away. Is it more satiating? Thanks! Your the semi-second blogger on this site 🙂
VeggieGirl
February 20, 2008 at 12:00 am**Susan:
I eat Larabars mainly because of their nutrition profile – they are great sources of vital nutrients, vitamins, minerals; and none of the bars have more than 6 or 7 ingredients (most of which are just purely nuts and fruit); and they’re certified raw and vegan, which is important for my personal dietary guidelines. Basically, Larabars are pure, wholesome nutrition-powerhouses, conveniently packaged into one bar – no “funny/fake stuff” at ALL in them!! And they’re delicious :0) I love bananas (eat at least one of those everyday, too!), and peanut-butter is okay (I prefer hazelnut-butter, almond-butter, cashew-butter, and walnut-butter), but the Larabars are great for on-the-go, easy-to-eat nutrition and variety.
Hayley
February 20, 2008 at 12:07 amI definitely agree with everyone about the roasted veggies! I love making brussel sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower in the oven. They are my favourite vegetables!
I am so intrigued by all your vegan food Jenna! I am planning a trip to the bookstore to flip through some of the vegan cookbooks that have been mentioned on the blog, everything seems so great and I love baking, so that banana bread looks perfect. I hope you have a good class tonight!
With regards to all the talk about eating disorders…I can see how all the talk about calories and fearing weight gain can be provocative. I also know from experience that Anorexia and other eating disorders are very isolating and lonely, so it helps to know that there are others out there. I think its good that we can discuss it and support each other, and as long as it doesn’t dominate the comments section, I think we should leave our topics of discussion pretty open to anything. Hopefully we can talk about a variety of things so that everyone can find something to relate to.
Again, I think everyone here is so great and so supportive so lets keep it positive!
Jess
February 20, 2008 at 12:14 amHeather- Good luck with the veggie roasting! You’ll LOVE them, it totally deepens and brings out the flavor. I usually toss my favorites in a bit of olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice. Sometimes I’ll add some chopped herbs in there too (hellooo oregano or basil!). Then stick them in the oven at around 425* for 20-30 minutes.
I’m experimenting tonight too- Vegan pizza! I just made the dough, but we’ll see what happens, it’s anyone’s guess 😉
-jess
Romina
February 20, 2008 at 12:15 amI got my Veganomicon a little over a month ago and it is by FAR one of my favorite cookbooks. It’s incredible! Sometimes I say “hmm, this sounds good but will it be good? Then I make it, and it far exceeds my expectations! I have yet to try the banana bread, but since it’s “lower fat” I definitely have to try it. I’ve made 3 types of muffins, and they’re all big favorites in my house.
Those roasted veggies look delicious! Brussel sprouts and cauliflower taste so much better when they’re roasted. (And they have a great nutritional profile!)
BethT
February 20, 2008 at 12:23 amHey VeggieGirl – since Jenna is in class, can you tell me if you have made the chickpea cutlets you recommended to her? I want to make them tonight but am intimidated by the “kneading” process in the recipe….is the wheat gluten difficult to work with?
Romina
February 20, 2008 at 12:39 amBethT –
I know your comment was directed at VeggieGirl, but I can personally say that chickpea cutlets are really easy to make! I made them the first time I experimented with vital wheat gluten, and it’s super simple. You only have to knead it for a few minutes and it all just starts to come together by itself like an elastic. You’ll have lots of fun!
M.E.
February 20, 2008 at 12:48 amJenna- I have been to Hank’s, S.N.O.B., and Papa Zuzu’s– they others I am putting on my list for this August. I love Hank’s too– the grouper is amazing! Have you ever been to Hominy Grill for breakfast/brunch? It’s another great find that’s kind of off the beaten path!
BethT
February 20, 2008 at 12:54 amThanks Romina! Any expert will do, LOL :p
Also, did you fry or bake them? I read a few other blogs that implied frying is the way to go…
Romina
February 20, 2008 at 12:58 amBeth – I baked them. I haven’t fried them yet, but from my experience, they tasted quite good baked. They were a little dry though so if you like something more palatable by all means, fry them. You could even bake half and fry the rest and see what you like best. =)
SARA
February 20, 2008 at 1:00 amHello… i absolutely love banana bread! i must try this out when my bananas turn black. aha!
Evie
February 20, 2008 at 1:01 amTo Jenna, or other vegetarians and/or vegans:
My primary concern since being a vegetarian is that I am getting all the nutrients I need, so I take a multivitamin to supplement my eating.
Recently, I’ve looked into vegan diets and I really want to adopt one, but before I do, I want to hear from other vegans on how they get their needed nutrients. What I really want to know is, do you guys take a Vitamin B12 supplement (since I learned from my nutrition class that this is the vitamin that vegan diets lack)? If so, what brand do you buy? Or if you buy a multivitamin, which one do you buy?
My multivitamin says it has 100% Vitamin B12, so I suppose this will fulfill my daily requirement, but still, I wanted to here what others use.
Also: I have a can of pinto beans, diced tomatoes, and brown rice just waiting to be turned into a recipe… but I don’t know what it could be! Anyone got any ideas (keep in mind.. I’m a poor college student with limited food access.. I have a full salad bar and a “mini” grocery store that sells quick meals: think mac n cheese – at my disposal).
Thanks!
Rae
February 20, 2008 at 1:04 amBlueberryBabe,
I’m a fellow New Yorker, just not as vocal on the comments section 🙂 I’m from Rochester, though, which is upstate, so I basically feel we’re in different states, lol.
Jenna, I know its a simple question probably, but how do you do the BBQ tofu? Ive tried before and it never has any falvor…maybe I dont put enough BBQ sauce on or bake it enough, I’m not sure.
Anyways…AWESOME new recipes for veggie dishes…I’m a meat eater, but i LOVE tofu and soy products as well.
VeggieGirl
February 20, 2008 at 1:06 am**BethT:
Romina took the words right out of my mouth (or keyboard, in this case), about the chickpea cutlets!! :0)
VeggieGirl
February 20, 2008 at 1:09 am**Evie:
I take a multivitamin everyday, in addition to consuming fortified products (such as nut-milks – hempmilk is an excellent source of vitamin B12 and calcium, for example; and almond-milk is a great source of calcium, etc.). Since I have Crohn’s Disease, and cannot absorb all of the nutrients that I consume I take the multivitamin to ensure that I get as many nutrients as possible, in addition to eating a well-balanced, high-raw vegan diet. I have no nutritional deficiencies to speak of, nor am I on the “low end” of the nutritional spectrum.
Heather(II)
February 20, 2008 at 1:11 amCarrie,
I, too, wanted a chocolate olive oil cake after making and loving Jenna’s original. I googled and found this one: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,196,150165-235194,00.html.
I made it on Valentine’s day and my family liked it. Although, we all agreed the original was better.
Good luck if you try it.
Heather
BethT
February 20, 2008 at 1:12 amThe great cutlet experiment!
🙂
Thanks all!
LT
February 20, 2008 at 1:17 amHeather…roasted asparagus is by far my favorite. As someone else said, roast at 425 degrees but only for a few minutes (like 5-10 for me) because I still like a nice bite to mine.
Susan
February 20, 2008 at 1:18 amJess,
You answered heather how to roast veggies, I am curious as well. I lack basically all cooking knowledge.
What do you put the veggies on? Do you mix garlic, lemon and oilve oil together or is either or ie garlic and oilve oil or lemon and olive oil?
Sorry one last question, I have only frozen veggies, do you think that if I cook them first that will work too? Thanks so much!!
Romina
February 20, 2008 at 1:22 amEvie – Yes, Vitamin B12 is a huge concern for Vegans, but it is rare that you will find a vegan with a deficiency. Why? Because vegans (the well informed ones at least) take care to ensure they are getting enough. There are many multivitamins that provide more than the RDA (more than 2.4 micrograms) and other essential vitamins and minerals. Vegans have to be careful of what multivitamins they choose because they can have lactose, gelatin and Vitamin D3 (derived from sheep).
There are many vegans around the world who live fulfilling and healthful lives. It’s a difficult choice for some to make, but even just giving up meat can be fulfilling in itself for a multitude of reasons. Whatever course you take, I wish you luck. =) If you are still concerned, I suggest you talk to a registered dietitian or your family doctor.
Margaret
February 20, 2008 at 1:23 amJenna,
I had your mom over for dinner tonight and I made her shrimp pasta in a pink sauce, and for dessert I (don’t bake btw) made something that I don’t have a name for. I took a dallop of Nutella and put it inside a won ton wrapper; then seeled it fried it and then sprinkled it with powered sugar. SOOOOO good!! I hope she enjoyed it b/c I enjoyed her company. Love your website. Good luck with everything.
Margaret
Jess
February 20, 2008 at 1:27 amHey Susan!
I had to teach myself how to cook because my mom simply can’t or won’t (prefers takeout) and my dad Only barbecues red meat- no side dishes, haha. I put the veggies on either a cookie sheet lined with foil (for easy cleanup!) or a cookie sheet with one of those rack things on top. The olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and any herbs are all together! The flavors really do blend up beautifully. I tend to undercook mine a little as well (like LT mentioned in her post) because I still like a bite to them, so I really roast them for about 15 minutes, depending on the veggie- but for a beginner I thought that 20-25 minutes would be an easier way to break into it. Also, with asparagus, or really any veggie, you can drizzle them with some honey OR balsamic vinegar OR cheese after they’re done roasting but still warm to jazz them up. I’m not sure about frozen vegetables… maybe let them defrost? Haha, they may end up soggy though. I usually stick with fresh vegetables for roasting and keep the frozen ones on hand for stirfrys or quick microwave jobs (ah, the bliss of college). Good luck on your veggie endeavor!!
-jess
Rose
February 20, 2008 at 1:34 amEvie – how about a vegie burrito or wrap? Do you have access to any wraps? You could heat up the pinto beans and season them with whatever you have and stuff a wrap with some rice, tomatoes and any other veggies you have. Or you could make a tomato and rice dish topped with some pinto bean “hummus” which is basically just pureed or mashed pinto beans. You could also prepare the rice and tomato, place in a casserole dish, smear the “hummus” on top and then pop in the oven (prolly 400 degrees) for a 5-10 to get it warmed up and crispy. Hope this helps!
Jenna – Are there any apple bread recipes in Veganomicon? I have this great gluten free apple bread recipe that is very similiar to your banana one and is to die for! Hope your class went well tonight!
Susan
February 20, 2008 at 1:37 amThanks so much………my mom doesn’t cook either (we barely own cooking utensils!), it makes it so much harder to learn.
Sorry last dumb question does the garlic just being in the pan really flavor it- even if its not directly on the veggie ex: brocolli
Do you wash fresh vegetables…….it seems like such a pain to get between all the brocolli bus, that’s why I always stick with frozen!
Thanks again! Really appreciate it!
Anna
February 20, 2008 at 1:40 amJenna I’m curious, what do you think about your new schedule of having class in the evening and going until late at night and having more free time during the day? Do you find it difficult to adapt to such a different schedule than normal or do you get more accomplished during the daytime hours?
VeggieGirl
February 20, 2008 at 1:42 am**Susan:
It’s important to wash produce (especially organic produce) in order to wash away any potential contaminants/dirt that may be lingering. It doesn’t take long, and is worth the extra effort, I promise! :0)
Serena
February 20, 2008 at 1:47 amwow there are a lot of comments today! so a very good friend of mine is a vegan and i asked her if she had veganomicon to see if i could borrow it. turns out she doesn’t have it but she does have a vegan cupcake book written by the same authors and she says that it’s fabulous: http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Cupcakes-Take-Over-World/dp/1569242739/ref=pd_bbs_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203466494&sr=8-4
Becky
February 20, 2008 at 1:48 amAnnie, thank you so much for the recipe counter website! I have a feeling it will become my new obsession! :p
Karissa
February 20, 2008 at 1:49 amHey Jenna,
This might be a stupid question but is there a reason why your bread class is at such a randomly late time? Just curious…I had to ask.
Anne
February 20, 2008 at 1:53 amJenna! I gave up bread and cheese for Lent!!!!!! I am dying here!!!
ha!
Anne.
Danielle
February 20, 2008 at 2:09 amBlueberrybabe,
I’m from New York! Westchester county (Valhalla specifically but no one ever recognizes the name, haha) and 20 minutes from the city… where are you?!
Becky
February 20, 2008 at 2:21 amI’m a New Yorker too! I’m an upstate girl, living just outside of Albany 🙂
Lori- the pleasantly plump vegan
February 20, 2008 at 2:21 ambeautiful bread. V’Con is also a favorite cook book of ours. roasted cauliflower is probably my favorite thing lately.
Nicole
February 20, 2008 at 2:48 amDanielle–
I’m also from Westchester–New Rochelle.
BethT
February 20, 2008 at 3:20 amOk, last chickpea patty question for ANYONE who has made these…
What is the texture of the end product supposed to be? Mine were kind of moist and doughy, making me wonder if I made them too thick and they didn’t cook all the way thru. Thoughts? They were kinda like a crab cake…wonder if they should have a more springy/meaty consistency.
Scott @ One Food Guy
February 20, 2008 at 3:35 amI love Brussels sprouts! I think they are finally starting to get the respect they deserve in the modern food world!
Sara M
February 20, 2008 at 3:40 amQuestion to all you high-raw eaters:
I too eat fresh fruits and vegetables in abundance. However, this is posing a problem, because on the site I use to track my nutritional data/intake, it shows taht I frequently fall far below the “recommended” fat level (usually only reach 20-40g/day, absolute MOST 50g, and very rarely.)
I do eat decent amounts of nuts, peanut butter, soy, (not vegetarian, just don’t eat that much meat, and when I do, it’s very lean = low-fat), some dark chocolate, etc. But, It seems all the fruits/veggies/non-fat dairy products (American cheese singles, low-fat/fat-free yogurts, 0% Fage, Skinny Cow/WW Ice cream, etc.) are not adding up to an adequate daily fat level for me.
How does everyone else deal with this?? It seems there’s just not enough calories in everyone’s “budget” to get the full range of what they need every day.
Sara M
February 20, 2008 at 3:41 am(I also eat avocado, but mostly in sushi.)
Erica
February 20, 2008 at 3:58 amjenna, i was just wondering if you really loved those nana’s cookie bites.. i’m considering picking them up tomorrow on my trip to whole foods! thanks!! 🙂
Alyssa
February 20, 2008 at 4:06 amVeggieGirl,
What is your blondie recipe? It looks delicious!
Lizzy
February 20, 2008 at 10:33 amHey,
I just saw your comment on Rominas blog. Just wanted to let you know that I really like your site and I will definitely give that banana bread a try, so thanks a bunch for providing the recipe(I’m sadly not an owner of Vcon yet).
VeggieGirl
February 20, 2008 at 12:11 pm**Alyssa:
The blondie recipe is from the cookbook “My Sweet Vegan” (that’s the cookbook that Jenna talked about, in her post from a few days ago) – it’s an INCREDIBLE cookbook!! Highly recommended!! Especially for the blondie recipe :0)
VeggieGirl
February 20, 2008 at 12:15 pm**Sara M:
Go for avocados (as you mentioned), nuts, seeds, nut-butters, nut-milks, ground flax… that should help you reach your appropriate fat-intake level, in a very delicious way :0)
jenna
February 20, 2008 at 1:42 pmRe bread calorie counts:
I really have nooo idea how many calories per slice that bread is. It makes a loaf though and you can cut the slices as thin or as thick as you like. Like someone said, there are many websites out there for those interested where you can plug in each individual ingredient and get a total calorie count then divide by the number of slices. That just seems like a lot of work though—just enjoy it!!! Sorry I don’t have a specific number for you!
Heather S
February 20, 2008 at 1:51 pmLizzy,
I just wanted to say i really like your site. Great job and keep up the good work!
Jen
February 20, 2008 at 3:02 pmI’m a NY girl too…also just outside of Albany, Becky!
Becca A
February 20, 2008 at 3:47 pmThe banana bread looks soo good…I’m going to have to make it…if I ever catch up on schoolwork…