The Predictable Vegan Food Post

...because I can. And because if I'm going to wash all those dishes, I want something more to show for it than a happy plate.



This is a Veganomicon recipe, and it's typical for Isa...a million steps and a huge pile of dishes. It was worth it, though. First you roast Anaheim peppers for the sauce, then make the lime & cumin saturated kale-potato-pumpkin seed filling, then assemble and bake. I cheated and added a little FYH Monterrey Jack. We had it with avocado, some yellow rice (I threw in some onion and green and red peppers while it was cooking), and spicy black beans. And Ziegenbock (thanks, Craig!)

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We've been working in the yard a lot lately, and the more time you spend outside, the more likely you are to notice things like Lizard Sex:



See, it took me four whole posts to do something inappropriate!

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On the Financial Front, I did my grocery shopping with cash and stayed on budget, managing to spend just under the planned amount for the week ($100). By virtue of avoiding almost all processed foods, cooking from scratch, and never eating out, I managed to once again provide my family with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, organic milk/non GMO soymilk, and non-torture eggs (the milk and eggs are for The Boy).

Food and household goods are costing more and more. We aren't eating that much differently, but I have found myself changing some of my cooking habits in order to keep things the same, and each trip it seems like there's something I have to swap out or skip. The only real "snackfood" I buy is saltine crackers. Organic produce and Luna bars were the first things to go. Then Ross's lunchbox yogurt smoothies went from organic, to non-organic, to cups of store-brand yogurt instead (this week). I quit buying Morningstar Farms crumbles and switched to TVP. I've been making a lot of seitan, and experimenting with different veggie burger recipes instead of buying them. Making cookies instead of buying them. Making my own cereal (it's just muesli, but we really like it). Oh, and this week I went official on making my own bread...basic whole wheat is up to $2.25 a loaf. I need to get into a routine on the breadmaking, so we don't run out.

I have plans to make my own laundry soap, too. And we planted a garden (a garden that is apparently very romantic, if you're a lizard). Maybe I should entice Craig out there...