what's cooking veg*ns march 2010 thread - Page 2

[craft_media_hero]

Originally Posted by wytchywoman

I'm kind of having some food choice issues mamas and I'm hoping someone can offer some suggestions. I had my gallbladder taken out last Friday and food in general is not appealing. My average food intake right now is an apple in the morning, and then veg broth when I'm hungry, maybe with some crackers, and mashed potatoes for dinner. The thought of ANY protein right now seriously makes me want to hurl. Not sure what I should be eating but I suspect that my caloric intake right now is way too low and I am concerned that I am inhibiting my own healing process by not eating enough. Problem is nothing sounds good. Anyone been through this?

I'm just going to jump right in on this board. I can totally relate to what you're going through, wytchywoman! After surgery, I've always lost my appetite, and I have a weird, very selective menu that I will eat.

One thing I always crave post-op is baked potatoes with butter, balsamic vinegar, salt, garlic, nutritional yeast, and some melted mozza (could use veggie shreds or other sub). I can eat primarily that (with soy milk) for several days straight. I always crave the soy milk when I'm recovering, big time! Even a cup a day would be helping your body get a little more nutrition so that you can feel better soon. The potato and milk make a complete protein--I think that's why I crave it so bad? Along w/ the b-vites in the yeast.

Could you consider switching to a lentil soup instead of the broth? Or even those instant soup packets that have dried beans? It sucks if you don't have someone to help cook for you---but maybe you could keep a crock pot on of a really thin lentil soup (like a weak dal)? my heart goes out to you; if I were nearby, I'd bring you something yummy to snack on.

Another post-op food that I can get down is rice pudding--again, I cook it in soy milk to give it a boost; if you're not soy-free that could be a good way to go. Lots of raisins for iron.

Everyone's tastes are so different when their under the weather, but I would say that you probably need to make yourself bulk up the nutrition a little to speed up your recovery Good luck, I hope you start feeling better, soon.


As far as my menu, I've been rockin this week!

Last night we had a crock pot red bean chile, very simple and easy, with about a pound of dry red beans to start and then I just added a small chopped onion, a green bell pepper, and small sweet yellow pepper. Red chile powder, ground cumin, salt, garlic, yum! Vegan!

We had green lasagna with homemade spinach noodles and pesto sauce, and it was a big hit with the fam. Veg coz I added in parm and ricotta.

And black bean taco salad, not a lot of cooking but lots of washing and chopping vegetables, so it did kinda take a while, but literally brought a tear to my dear partner's eye. Vegan!

I'm planning the cream cheese enchiladas (with GOOD olives and spinach chopped and mixed into the crm cz) from The Enchanted Brocolli Forest (such a great book!) and a rice, mushroom, and brocolli casserole in the near future, as well.

I've been trying to eat lots of greens and beans coz I'm preggo and my midwife says my iron is low and my red blood cells are tiny.

Breakfast has been brown rice grits or oatmeal. My daughter loves her some cooked grains and would be happy to eat them for every meal. Glad I stumbled on this thread! I'm always looking for inspiration for my veggie kitchen.

[wytchywoman]

Originally Posted by craft_media_hero

One thing I always crave post-op is baked potatoes with butter, balsamic vinegar, salt, garlic, nutritional yeast, and some melted mozza (could use veggie shreds or other sub). I can eat primarily that (with soy milk) for several days straight. I always crave the soy milk when I'm recovering, big time! Even a cup a day would be helping your body get a little more nutrition so that you can feel better soon. The potato and milk make a complete protein--I think that's why I crave it so bad? Along w/ the b-vites in the yeast.

Could you consider switching to a lentil soup instead of the broth? Or even those instant soup packets that have dried beans? It sucks if you don't have someone to help cook for you---but maybe you could keep a crock pot on of a really thin lentil soup (like a weak dal)? my heart goes out to you; if I were nearby, I'd bring you something yummy to snack on.

Another post-op food that I can get down is rice pudding--again, I cook it in soy milk to give it a boost; if you're not soy-free that could be a good way to go. Lots of raisins for iron.

That baked potato sounds super yummy. I never throught about the nut. yeast but I will give that a try. Mashed potatoes seem to be about the only thing I am actually craving, don't know if it's because my body is so desperate for calories that it's crying out for starchy carbs maybe? I'm going to make the potatoes with cannelini beans, and see if I can stomach some protein that way, plus I'm going to sprinkle some cheese on them as well. At any other time I would gladly eat lentils but right now it nauseates me just to think about it. I really don't think I'm going to keep them down and I'm afraid to vomit as my surgical "wounds" are still really sore, I can't begin to imagine how painful puking might be. Anyway, on a happier note, the rice pudding sounds really yummy too so I will cook some of that up as well, and I had no idea raisins where high in iron! Thanks a ton for responding to my post, I really appreciate it!!!

[kangamitroo]

wytchywoman, i hope you feel better soon. the only suggestion i have is to try quinoa, since it is such a high protein grain. if you can hold down rice, quinoa should be fine, and you can top it anyway you'd top your potatoes.

as for me, i have been eating pinto beans and corn tortillas like they're going out of style. i just can't get enough. feeling uninspired to cook anything more interesting for my family. it does not help that dd seems to crave....hot dogs. and bacon. and anything with cheese. none of which i eat. anyhow. we go through these waves periodically, then i find a recipe (here, usually ) that rocks, and i get my family back on the healthy wagon again.

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by kangamitroo

wytchywoman, i hope you feel better soon. the only suggestion i have is to try quinoa, since it is such a high protein grain. if you can hold down rice, quinoa should be fine, and you can top it anyway you'd top your potatoes.

Last night we had roasted broccoli, mashed yukon golds (OMG the best potato ever!) with mushroom gravy & nasty mushroom Gardenburgers.

I REALLY need to get out of the frozen patty habit. I just don't know what else to make anymore. I've tried to make different patties & loafs myself, but none seem turn out very well. I've also fallen back into a veg, starch, & protien (meat eaters style plate) meal planning habit which makes it even harder.

[sagewinna]

We had lasagna last night. Tonight is stir fried bok choy, chard and carrots with mushrooms and tofu over brown rice.

[maciascl]

Last night we tried something different. I crumbled firm, well drained tofu into a pan with oil & seasonings, then browned it. Then I pour a jar a spageeti sauce over it & tossed it with noodles to make spagetti. It turned out really well. Simple, I know, but I've never thought to do that.

Tonight I am makeing vegan sausages with roasted potatoes & asparagus.

[Vegan Princess]

My produce market had big bags of all sorts of mixxed mushrooms on special yesterday so I am going to sautee them up in olive oil and garlic. Serving it over wild rice with artichokes and vegan garlic aioli on the side.

Cindy

[Keeta]

Let's see...Sunday night we had some really delicious sweet potato-broccoli soup and kale chips. Last night we had curried chickpeas and collard greens with salad - really good! Tonight I pulled out some veggie meat loaffins (muffin shaped meatloaf)...we'll have them with salad and maybe delicata squash or frozen peas or broccoli.

[maciascl]

It has been really warm here lately so I am going to take advantage of the slighty cooler day we are having & make broccoli cheese soup to use up the 4 pounds of broc I got recently. I'll have to make some sandwiches to go with it since the boys aren't likely to eat soup. May be grilled 'cheeze' & tofurkey sandwiches and apple slices.

[catnip]

Last night we did the falafel waffles that I was raving about in another post, stuffed into a pita with sprouts and tomato and drizzled with tahini sauce.
Rose-vanilla vegan ice cream for dessert.

Today we are going to the SUN Spot, our homeschool community center, and we're going to be getting back late, so I'm making pasta with cashew-alfredo and asparagus for dinner. Not sure if we're doing a dessert with it, yet. I might make the rosewater cookies from Veganomicon and make icecream sandwiches.

[red and lulu]

Originally Posted by catnip

Last night we did the falafel waffles that I was raving about in another post, stuffed into a pita with sprouts and tomato and drizzled with tahini sauce.
Rose-vanilla vegan ice cream for dessert.

YUM.

last night, at dp's request, i made vegan sheperd's pie. it came out really well — i love it when that happens

night before it was tvp tacos with lots of avocado, grilled onions, and pickled jalapenos.

tonight, mushroom kale saute over polenta.

[Vegan Princess]

Tonight we're having homemade pizza with daiya cheese. Mmm!

Cindy

[KaylaBeanie]

Tonight was my unhealthy stew, since I'm sick and it's cold and rainy. I mix veggie broth, a little bit of all natural tomato sauce, oregano, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, honey and celery salt. I like it spicy. Then, add in celery, peeled and sliced red potatoes, carrots, onion and garlic. It's pretty starch heavy, so I don't cook it often, but yum...I love it.

Tomorrow I'll probably make lasagna for the family. I'll probably cook a big batch of beans too, so that I can just make beans and rice on Monday or Tuesday. I also have some tortillas and black beans I have to use up, so maybe tacos one day this week?

[catnip]

Black bean and corn soup with avocado, roasted pineapple salsa and homemade corn tortillas.

[chanale]

VeganPrincess - That daiya cheese is awesome - I just found some for the first time last week! DD loved her vegan spinach quesadilla.

Dinner last night was what happens when you haven't been to the store in too long. Some mishmash of tempeh, carrots, onions, and peanut sauce over brown basmati rice.

[hugosmoma]

oh catnip!

do you have a recipe for the roasted pineapple salsa? that sounds crazy divine.

[maciascl]

Tonight I am going to chop up some leftover Vegan Dad sausages & throw them in a pan with some yummy orzo & broccoli.

[caiesmommy]

I haven't had the internet and have REALLY been slacking on cooking. Went away for march break, and we've been batling colds off and on all month! So its been ALOT of miso soup! But I have a ton of yummy produce right now(not a lot of protein though ) so Im attempting to cook tonight!

I've decided to make vegan chili and guacamole w chips tonight