My car is broken. Will have to figure out when time allows. Less than 2 weeks until finals!
Over Thanksgiving break...
The Detroit Thanksgiving parade was classic!
Watched all of Miracle on 34th Street! Finally! So cute!
Watched the 1949 Secret Garden. Also good.
The family was well, the food was fine.
Check out my cousin Lindsay's website? The Gift Insider.
Friends...
I didn't get to see Courtney, because I didn't venture down to the D.
But I did get to see Alex, Karissa, and Nadis Twins.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
[Weekend 13]
Light up night was a smidge too corporate and crowded for my liking. I look forward to exploring the Christmas decorations to my own beat [maybe with a friend].
Saturday went to the old gang [Carol, Venera, Sho, and Lucias] for a nice walk to this fabulous coffee shop! Tazza D'Oro currently wears the Pittsburgh Coffee Crown! Did I mention it is fabulous? The coffee and the atmosphere are top notch!
Josh and me went out to Derry. With Mark and Marchen we went to Ted Carn's home [Stone Camp]. You could read the book. Stone Camp was pretty awesome!
Monday I got to explore the abdominal cavity in cadaver lab. Oh yeah!
Yesterday went to Abay with Josh and his brother. The injera wasn't as sour as others I've had and the food wasn't as spicy, but it was good, just different. After dinner we met with his Sister at 61 C Cafe. Had a yummy chocolate and peanut butter cookie to eat and a soy milk steamer to drink. The have this great sibling thing going on.
Now I am home for the holiday!
Saturday went to the old gang [Carol, Venera, Sho, and Lucias] for a nice walk to this fabulous coffee shop! Tazza D'Oro currently wears the Pittsburgh Coffee Crown! Did I mention it is fabulous? The coffee and the atmosphere are top notch!
Josh and me went out to Derry. With Mark and Marchen we went to Ted Carn's home [Stone Camp]. You could read the book. Stone Camp was pretty awesome!
Monday I got to explore the abdominal cavity in cadaver lab. Oh yeah!
Yesterday went to Abay with Josh and his brother. The injera wasn't as sour as others I've had and the food wasn't as spicy, but it was good, just different. After dinner we met with his Sister at 61 C Cafe. Had a yummy chocolate and peanut butter cookie to eat and a soy milk steamer to drink. The have this great sibling thing going on.
Now I am home for the holiday!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Whiskey Sours [Weekend 12]
Thursday went out with the OT girlies. Had 3 whiskey sours! One at Cappy's and one at Mario's. Ate trace amounts of bacon on the pub fries at Mario's. Was not blown away by the reuben the sweet potato fries were on point. It is a nice place for happy hour. $2 wells! Next time I think I should try the Yinzerogies [happy hour price $5]. Afterwards Meghan drove us to Giant Eagle so I could procure more Kleenex [I'm just now getting totally over my sinus cold!]. From there she dropped me off at my doorstep! I was sleeping by 9pm! Not really the off the hook post anatomy exam event one might expect? [At least not for our table.] But lovely nonetheless!
Friday I went to Grad 200 shabbat event with Amy as part of my involvement with J'burgh. It was a nice enough event. After it was over we went and had a drink [whiskey sour] at fuel and fuddle. Amy and me have another friend date coming up this weekend!
Saturday I met Josh's Papa and Mama. They were cute and nice and it was good. We went to Alma Pan-Latin Kitchen. The plantains didn't excite me. The yuca fries were tasty, but the aji and cilantro/jalapeno sauces put it over the top. I really liked my dish [ Arepa de vegetales con plátanos maduros; Fresh beets, avocado, cabbage and cilantro on an unleavened Columbian corn pastry with sweet plantain]. Josh's Mama got Torrejitas de frijolitos; Pan-seared legume cakes served with collard greens and ripe plantains [she let me try it] the black bean cakes had lovely texture and the sauce was sinful. I would return here again! It is a real nice place for a date or if the parents are paying, but not Outrageously priced. After dinner we had coffees at Coffee Tree Roaster. I've actually never had a coffee there I stick to the chai chargers.
A bit about Whiskey Sours. So they are a new drink I have added to my my preferences just this weekend.
Mario was cheap, because it was happy hour $2, but not particualry strong.
Cappy's was $4.50 and a bit stronger than Mario's.
Alma's was tasty, not particularly strong, and expenssive $8.
Fuel and Fuddle's tasted strong and good! $4 Winner!
Yesterday... I made Mini Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes. They turned out too dense. And I actually frosted them with cream cheese frosting. It was a huge ordeal.
Today we have an "open house" at school... where the cupcakes will be served.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Mom's Buttercream Frosting
This is my mom's Buttercream Frosting recipe and it taste like pure childhood bliss! Nothing low fat or vegan about it. And yes it does have a RAW egg white in it.
Cream together 2 sticks margarine and 1 stick solid crisco (1 cup).
Add 1 egg white, 1 T vanilla, and 1 box confectioners sugar ( 1 pound).
After above mixed well, slowly add 1/2 cup warmed milk (micro 1/2 minute just to get chill off and slightly warm) a little at a time mixing as you add so all is completely absorbed.
There you have it!
Cream together 2 sticks margarine and 1 stick solid crisco (1 cup).
Add 1 egg white, 1 T vanilla, and 1 box confectioners sugar ( 1 pound).
After above mixed well, slowly add 1/2 cup warmed milk (micro 1/2 minute just to get chill off and slightly warm) a little at a time mixing as you add so all is completely absorbed.
There you have it!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Vegan lentil gravy. Gravy with some subsistence.
This is adapted from Isa Chandra Moskowitz's punk rock chickpea gravy recipe. It is from the cookbook Vegan with a Vengeance, which Bower House had and I fully recommend! I located the recipe on Tofu Mom's Blog. The vegan comfort foods presented on this blog sound fabulous!
I've sort of adapted the recipe over time... because the recipe makes way too much gravy for one person and lentils are more gravy like than chickpeas. Generally I only want to have enough left overs for one or two days... not the rest of the week... how much mashed potatoes can a person eat? Also you don't need flour because the lentils thicken.
1 1/4 cup water
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, quartered and sliced thin
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 1/2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 can of chickpeas drained and rinsed OR 3/4 cup lentils pre soaked (green, brown, or french)
1 pinch ground cumin
1 pinch paprika
1/2 pinch dried coriander
1/2 pinch dried rosemary
1/2 pinch dried thyme
1/2 pinch dried oregano
OR forgo the rosemary, thyme, and oregano... go with some poultry seasoning!
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce OR a veggie bouillon cube
1/2 lemon, juice of OR 1 tablespoon sherry
1/8 cup nutritional yeast
additional water, if needed
Saute 1/2 a medium/small onion and mustard seeds in a splash of oil, add garlic when they are near translucent. If you want to leave out the oil and/or save time, just put the onion, mustard seeds, and garlic in with the water and lentils from the get go! Add 3/4 cup of lentils to 1 1/4 cup water. Add some poultry seasoning and/or some of the spices they suggest in the original recipe. You know how I feel about poultry seasoning? I love poultry seasoning. Cook covered and stirring occasionally until you have a nice soft lentils. half an hour to an hour. Add water if it gets too dry. When you have soft lentils. When the lentils are cooked [mushy/soft] and NOT before. Add a veggie bouillon cube (more flavorful than soy sauce). I like a tablespoon of Sherry. What can I say? Me likes wine. If you do too... cook another few minutes to cook out the alcohol. If you decide against sherry, you are making the wrong choice, but can use the lemon juice to add acidity. And add nutritional yeast as desired. I find what I like about nutritional yeast is its salty and creamy quality. At this point give it a good stir and a taste, you might decide you want to add a splash of soy sauce, braggs, or salt. Blend in a blender if desired. Add water to desired consistency. I like thicker gravy.
As a side note. I would never do it, because I'm not a fan of such things. But you could add some finely diced mushrooms and green bell peppers for some flavor.
Enjoy.
I've sort of adapted the recipe over time... because the recipe makes way too much gravy for one person and lentils are more gravy like than chickpeas. Generally I only want to have enough left overs for one or two days... not the rest of the week... how much mashed potatoes can a person eat? Also you don't need flour because the lentils thicken.
1 1/4 cup water
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, quartered and sliced thin
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 1/2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 can of chickpeas drained and rinsed OR 3/4 cup lentils pre soaked (green, brown, or french)
1 pinch ground cumin
1 pinch paprika
1/2 pinch dried coriander
1/2 pinch dried rosemary
1/2 pinch dried thyme
1/2 pinch dried oregano
OR forgo the rosemary, thyme, and oregano... go with some poultry seasoning!
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce OR a veggie bouillon cube
1/2 lemon, juice of OR 1 tablespoon sherry
1/8 cup nutritional yeast
additional water, if needed
Saute 1/2 a medium/small onion and mustard seeds in a splash of oil, add garlic when they are near translucent. If you want to leave out the oil and/or save time, just put the onion, mustard seeds, and garlic in with the water and lentils from the get go! Add 3/4 cup of lentils to 1 1/4 cup water. Add some poultry seasoning and/or some of the spices they suggest in the original recipe. You know how I feel about poultry seasoning? I love poultry seasoning. Cook covered and stirring occasionally until you have a nice soft lentils. half an hour to an hour. Add water if it gets too dry. When you have soft lentils. When the lentils are cooked [mushy/soft] and NOT before. Add a veggie bouillon cube (more flavorful than soy sauce). I like a tablespoon of Sherry. What can I say? Me likes wine. If you do too... cook another few minutes to cook out the alcohol. If you decide against sherry, you are making the wrong choice, but can use the lemon juice to add acidity. And add nutritional yeast as desired. I find what I like about nutritional yeast is its salty and creamy quality. At this point give it a good stir and a taste, you might decide you want to add a splash of soy sauce, braggs, or salt. Blend in a blender if desired. Add water to desired consistency. I like thicker gravy.
As a side note. I would never do it, because I'm not a fan of such things. But you could add some finely diced mushrooms and green bell peppers for some flavor.
Enjoy.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Anatomy Exam II
This entire week has been a marathon to take Anatomy Exam 2: the upper extremity. It is done finished.
Treat myself to some dirt cheap Yen's Chinese food for lunch. $5! The hot and sour soup was pretty special. The triple green delight had really fresh tasting veggie, but the sauce was just okay. I'd do it again.
Fortune cookie. "Fate will find a way."
Going out for drinks with the OT crew...
Treat myself to some dirt cheap Yen's Chinese food for lunch. $5! The hot and sour soup was pretty special. The triple green delight had really fresh tasting veggie, but the sauce was just okay. I'd do it again.
Fortune cookie. "Fate will find a way."
Going out for drinks with the OT crew...
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Polenta Pizza
From the Fat Free Vegan Kitchen I made Polenta Pizza. Need to make sure the polenta is super thick! I don't think I thickened mine enough... had to extend the baking time for the crust.
I topped it with pesto, chopped spinach, cheese [not vegan or fat free], diced cherry tomatoes, and dried cherries. Carol lovingly prepared the toppings!
It was pretty fabulous!
My blog needs more pictures... How can my blog be a success without the proper amount of food porn?!
I topped it with pesto, chopped spinach, cheese [not vegan or fat free], diced cherry tomatoes, and dried cherries. Carol lovingly prepared the toppings!
It was pretty fabulous!
My blog needs more pictures... How can my blog be a success without the proper amount of food porn?!
Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes
Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes
For two…
1/3 cup uncooked hot cereal multi grain (barley, oat, rye, wheat) in food processor
¼ cup unbleached wheat flour
¼ cup wheat bran
1 t baking powder
¼ t baking soda
½ t cinnamon
1 T sugar
1 T flax seed meal to 3 T hot water for an “egg.” Let sit 3 minutes then whip together.
½ t pumpkin pie spice
½ cup pumpkin puree
½ t vanilla
1 t lemon juice
2/3 cup milk + (3 T) more until thin enough
Gently combine wet and dry ingredients, adding more soy milk (or water) until pancake batter texture has been achieved.
On a Medium hot skillet. Spoon out ¼ cup of batter. Cook until bubbles and the top of the pancake begins to look dry. Flip, cook additional time to brown.
We got 10 pancakes.
Adapted from… MyLittle Celebration.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
The week of the Sinus Cold
Monday... Uneventful.
Tuesday woke up with a terrible sore throat. Didn't go to my first 2 classes. Drank OJ in my PJs and did a little studying. Went to mental health. Got good marks on my essay and exam.
Wednesday... thought I was feeling a bit better. Went to classes. Felt competent in cad lab. Beginning to feel prepared for my anatomy exam 11/10. After class came home and made stuffed cabbage. Josh came over.
He brought me chocolate mouse, mint hummus, and kitchen tongs! We snuggled on the couch and watched Fiddler on the Roof.
Thursday... another sick day. Went for some spicy India food at India Garden. Half off vegetarian entrees 5-6pm! Sweat the cold out! Shared with Venera & Carol. #51, 57, & 60! Yummy!
Friday... despite my sinus cold went to class. After class got some new flats and a comforter for my bed. I went to the Pittsburgh Symphony with Josh. [Mama and Papa Josh were out of town, so we used their tickets!] Dressed up. Josh looked very handsome in suit. It was the Young Person's Guild to the Orchestra. My favorite piece was the first piece played, Cindy McTee: Double Play (2010) [take a listen]! Josh liked Ralph Vaughn Williams: Five Variants of “Dives and Lazarus” (1993). Slight difference of opinion. Benjamin Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (1946) was the final piece. The literally had young people introduce the orchestra. A bit too hokey for me. Overall a very positive first professional symphony experience!
Today... went to Square Cafe for breakfast with Carol. Their was a bit of a wait. We were there around 10:45a.m. on a Saturday! Went with the Andouille [Soy] Sausage with Jalapeno Jam. I don't think the Soy Sausage were homemade... they taste suspiciously like Gimme Lean. The grits were creamy, but certainly not cheesy. The jalapeno jam was fabulous! For the price ($10) I was shocked that my meal didn't come with toast?! Overall tasty, but pricy. The coffee was delightful. The service was fine, but not particularly re-memorable.
Tuesday woke up with a terrible sore throat. Didn't go to my first 2 classes. Drank OJ in my PJs and did a little studying. Went to mental health. Got good marks on my essay and exam.
Wednesday... thought I was feeling a bit better. Went to classes. Felt competent in cad lab. Beginning to feel prepared for my anatomy exam 11/10. After class came home and made stuffed cabbage. Josh came over.
He brought me chocolate mouse, mint hummus, and kitchen tongs! We snuggled on the couch and watched Fiddler on the Roof.
Thursday... another sick day. Went for some spicy India food at India Garden. Half off vegetarian entrees 5-6pm! Sweat the cold out! Shared with Venera & Carol. #51, 57, & 60! Yummy!
Friday... despite my sinus cold went to class. After class got some new flats and a comforter for my bed. I went to the Pittsburgh Symphony with Josh. [Mama and Papa Josh were out of town, so we used their tickets!] Dressed up. Josh looked very handsome in suit. It was the Young Person's Guild to the Orchestra. My favorite piece was the first piece played, Cindy McTee: Double Play (2010) [take a listen]! Josh liked Ralph Vaughn Williams: Five Variants of “Dives and Lazarus” (1993). Slight difference of opinion. Benjamin Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (1946) was the final piece. The literally had young people introduce the orchestra. A bit too hokey for me. Overall a very positive first professional symphony experience!
Today... went to Square Cafe for breakfast with Carol. Their was a bit of a wait. We were there around 10:45a.m. on a Saturday! Went with the Andouille [Soy] Sausage with Jalapeno Jam. I don't think the Soy Sausage were homemade... they taste suspiciously like Gimme Lean. The grits were creamy, but certainly not cheesy. The jalapeno jam was fabulous! For the price ($10) I was shocked that my meal didn't come with toast?! Overall tasty, but pricy. The coffee was delightful. The service was fine, but not particularly re-memorable.
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