What to do when it's too hot to cook (plus a little chocolate therapy)

Maybe you have A/C... maybe you're like me and don't (well that's a lie... I do... except mine has decided that it would be really cool if it would just act like a heater and blow hot air....)

How to Win at Grilled Cheese: in Six Easy Steps

Eeeerhmergerd!!! Daiya Made Wedges!!!

I buy food like most girls buy shoes... even though I'm trying to save money... I tend to splurge here and there, haha

Happy Cinco De Mayo!!

Waste Not: Sunday's Are My Favorite

I hate to waste anything... especially fresh food.

I'm Baaaack! And I made breakfast!

Hey everyone!! I'm back! I know it's been a little while.

Blueberry Scones... with a Fancy-Pants Twist

I love a good scone, especially with a nice hot cup of coffee or tea.

I am fairly picky about them though. I'm not a fan of those giant sugary diabetic-coma inducing monstrosities from the coffee shops around here (chains and local joints alike). Sugar aside, they're usually loaded with butter and eggs... which make my tummy feel like death.

Anything You Can Make, I Can Make Vegan: Mayo

Even though mayo grossed me out for a looooong time (thanks mostly to my high school days working in a certain sub shop) and actual mayo still does, even I get a hankerin' for some sort of creamy dressing every once and in a while. Thankfully I found and tweaked this recipe to fill the void!

What am I talking about? Tofu mayo of course! (Oh tofu, is there anything you can't do?)

Anything You Can Make, I Can Make Vegan: Creamy Cajun Linguine

Check it, this was one of Mike's favorite dishes that I used to make a few years back. Well here it is veganized for all of you, and it tastes just as good as ever!

Feelin' All Warm and Squashy Inside! Butternut Squash Soup

Hey everybody!!! It's been a little while, I've been working like a mad woman so I haven't had much time for blogging, but trust me when I say that I have a ton of recipes to post!!!

So Christmas is only 5 and a half days away! And as always I still have shopping and baking and cleaning and on top of that work to do... Anyways like a lot of you I'm usually in a pinch for dinner (or breakfast, lunch and dinner... Just call me Mrs. On Top Of Things) So came about the creation of this really easy and fairly quick soup that will warm up all of your gushy little insides and make your tummy happy :) (Plus you know I loves me some squash)

Spiced Butternut Squash Soup:

• 1 medium sized butternut squash, roasted and pureed (to save time use 1-2 cans of already pureed squash)
• 3c veggie broth
• 1c plain soy milk (or other non dariy milk)
• 2t cinnamon
• 1t cumin
• 1/2t pumpkin pie spice (optional, I do it for good measure)
• 1/2t fresh grated ginger
• 1/4t garlic powder
• 1/4t salt
• 1/4t nutmeg
• 1/4t cayenne (or more if your feeling spicy)

Mix erry'thing together in a pot over medium heat. Bring to a boil (side note: watch so that it doesn't boil-over and create a huge mess of your flat top stove...)  reduce heat and simmer for 20 mintues (longer if you want it thinker, less if you like it thinner).

Tada! you now have yummy soup, your welcome. (anotherside note let it sit for like 10 minutes before you haul off and destroy the inside of your mouth...)

Tomorrow dear children, we'll will continue this squashy lovefest with a little pumpkin baked ziti and possibly scones (we'll see how motivated I get) but I'll leave you off with the only Christmas song I can really stand haha, you know to get you in the holiday spirit and whatnot :)

Not Your Gramma's Bars: Indian-Spiced Rice Crispy Bars

Nothing brings a devilish grin to my face like taking a beloved American classic and turning it on it's ass! Take for instance the rice krispy bar. I don't think I could even begin to fathom the sheer number of these babies I've consumed in my youth...

Blood, Booze, Food and the Walking Undead

Well folks, another pub crawl has come and gone, and to be honest I think this was the best one yet. Mostly because I got to actually spend an entire evening out with the big man. I've been working my ass off between two jobs and it honestly was like a mini vacation, even if it was just a night. As hungover as I am, I feel refreshed and ready to hit the ground running.

If you know anything about me you know that I will jump on any excuse to throw on some fake blood and have a good time. But when I also discovered that there were food trucks involved I felt like I had died and gone to... well you get the idea.

I feel like such a small town Minnesota girl when I say that this was my first experience with real food trucks! The lines were a little ridiculous but I couldn't settle on just one. Hola Areapa and World Street Kitchen were the two I actually got through to and oh my god, the black bean areapa with a tangy red cabbage slaw and bright red tomato was as tasty as it was colorful and my curried squash tacos were seasoned perfectly served with a spicy chutney and a lot of fresh green onions and cilantro, it was to... die... for... (no pun intended).

Soooo good!!!

The rest of the night was slightly a blur, but I do remember a faintly a loaded veggie dog and us getting lost on the way back to the hotel (a 15 minute walk turned into a hour +)

I could eat this every morning!

but we topped off a bloody evening with a lovely breakfast at The Triple Rock Social Club full of toast, tofu (eggs for Mike) and good conversation. Oh what a weekend it was!

Today I will leave you with a festive little recipe to get you pumped for the up coming holiday... homemade fake blood!

Blood:

• 1c corn syrup
• 1/4c chocolate syrup
• 3-6 drops of red food dye
• 1-2 drops black food dye (optional, add more chocolate syrup if you don't have black dye)

Mix together in a bowl. (Hey I never said it was hard)

Be warned this stuff it really sticky and it takes a bit to dry but when it does it looks awesome!

PS. I apologies for the lack of posts, I recently had my old computer died and finally replaced it last Wednesday and haven't had much of a chance to set it all back up. So bear with me, I hope to be back up and running again very very soon!

Apple Fun (as promised) in the Form of a Healthy Dessert?! Absolutley!

Remember those apples I talked about a couple of posts ago? Well my collection grew and I finally settled on the perfect use for these sweet tarts:

"Chicken" Salad and the Scenic Route

This morning while rummaging though my fridge I happened to see that I had both grapes and celery... And briefly I longed for the days of homemade chicken salad sammiches... Mostly fir the wonderful contrast between the sweetness of the grapes and the savory of the celery all mixed together in creamy harmony.

Summer Sails Off In Style: Yummy Gooey Style

I heart bananas! If I had to be trapped on a tropical isle and could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would be bananas. Which is convenient since bananas grow in tropical areas.

I kid you not, at one point I was buying around 10 lbs a week (which isn't conclusive to a local diet haha) but like I said I love the little yellow buggers.

Cabiny Inspiraition: French Toast Redux

 

 
Last week was a week full of great food! There is a wonderful grill up at the cabin the Hubby and I had no shortage of ways to utilize said grill. One that I'm most proud of: Grilled French Toast with a grilled fruit compote.

Unbelievable and Fudgey: Black Bean Brownies (and Gluten Free To Boot!)

 
Again, I'm not big on the sweets... that being said when my sweet tooth rears it's ugly head I usually am let jonesin' for something nostalgic. Seriously I think the last time I had a brownie I was still in grade school.

A Squashy Situation: Zucchini Bread(s)

I loooove squash!! But recently I have found myself with an abundance of zucchini. I think I might have a problem because it seems whenever I pass by a farmers market I am compelled to buy a couple... which wouldn't be such a bad thing except for the fact that I'm and r-tard and forget that every Wednesday I get a CSA goodie box full of seasonal veggies. (fun fact: zucchinis are definitely in season right now).

Last week I went to go pick up my box and was in awe of the mammoth forearm-sized squash. Which caused me to wonder "What am I going to make wth this???" which led to "Holy crap!! What the hell am I going to do with all of the other ones??!!" (I tend to panic easily).

Creative Re-purposing: BBQ Veggie Burger Salad

It's July 5th, you wake up and realize that you have not only a few left over veggie burgers, but waaaayyy to many leafy greens in the fridge and no more buns... What do you do? Make a kick-ass salad!

Happy 'Merica Day!!

Hey all, here's a festive little breakfast/snack idea for a healthy happy refreshing 4th!!

Happy Forth Toast: (serves 1)

• 1 slice bread (I used a whole wheat sourdough... AH-MAZ-ING)
• 2T peanut butter (or other favorite nut butter)
• 4-8 fresh strawberries, sliced thin
• 1/4 of an apple, cut into thin strips
• a few blueberries
• Small mint sprig (to garnish, optional)

Toast the bread (totally optional), spread on the peanut butter and layer straw berries, apples and blueberries to create an American flag, or get creative and make your own design.

P.S. I promise I'll be posting more soon! Have a safe and happy holiday!! 'Merica!!