I ate tofu!

Vegan chili and cornbread.

Let me explain:  So, I made the recipe that I posted yesterday, you know – chili and cornbread, and it was quite tasty and I cooked up some brown rice, as well.  I went to the regular grocery store, and it felt like the longest trip ever.  I had to search for so many new types of groceries, but I ended up with everything I needed.  Except one thing:  imitation egg whites.  Where do I get these??  So, rather then scrapping the cornbread all together, I substituted in ‘silky’ tofu.  It worked just fine!  The chili was spicier than I would have preferred, but the boyfriend enjoyed it.  I also got Tofuti ‘sour cream’ and it tasted just like the real stuff!  I’m pretty excited that my first ‘vegan‘ recipe was a success, and I have soooo much left over, bet you can’t guess what I’ll be eating for lunch….

On an important matter of business, it is to my understanding that Ms. Shmitty has already lost the bet!!!  I’ve just received word from JP that on her cross-country trip with her father she ‘had’ to resort to eating meat – sources say chicken, but this information has not yet been validated.  The terms clearly stated that there was to be NO bending of the rules, regardless of circumstances.  As a gesture of pure kindness I am willing to consider over-looking this instance of weakness if she is willing to allow 1 (one) cheat meal for JP and I, to be used at our discretion.  But she gets no more.

Check back for post of absolute terms of updated contract.

Chili doesn’t NEED meat, right?!

I think I need to work on developing a menu for myself.  Right now I am failing in the “knowing what to eat” department.  Every morning I start with a soy latte, so no change there, but that’s about where I plateau.  Yesterday I had a granola bar, some brussel sprouts and a bit of cous-cous.  That doesn’t sound very nutritionally sound to me.  Today, the latte, some rice chex, and a pita smothered in Goober* so far.  In my defense, I was pretty busy at work.  I’m trying to find a yummy recipe but have an unfortunate issue with tofu.  And does anyone know where to get dairy-free cheese??  I wonder if it’s as melty, gooey, and yummy as real cheese…?

So, I’m thinking Chili.

Maybe the boyfriend won’t give me such a hard time if there’s a yummy, healthy, vegan dish on the table waiting for him when he gets home  ;]

Ultimate Vegetarian Chili

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

3 tablespoon olive oil
3 chopped onions
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 peppers, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
3 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 large can, undrained, of tomatoes, chopped
1 cup water
1 can red kidney beans, rinsed & drained
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups fresh or frozen corn
1/2 cup bulgur
salt and pepper
cilantro (optional)

Directions:

In a large pan, saute the onions and spices.  Add peppers and garlic for 1 min. Add cocoa, tomatoes, and water; bring to a boil. Add kidney and black beans, corn and bulgur.  Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 15 min. or until bulgur is cooked.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  To serve, sprinkle with  cilantro.

Amazing Corn Bread

1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1-3 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
1 apple made into applesauce or 1/3 cup prepared
applesauce
3/4 cup soy milk
2 egg whites equivalent (I used enerG)
1 15 oz can creamed corn

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425. Spray an 8X8 pan and preheat. Mix all ingredients, pour batter into heated pan and bake for 20 minutes.  Refrigerate leftovers. Also freezes well.

*Goober = pre-mixed peanut butter and jelly, and I feel is like a guilty pleasure because it requires such little effort, and something tells me an adult should not be indulging in a product with such a name unless there are little gremlins running around…