June veg*n living thread - Page 4

[bluets]

Originally Posted by ColoradoMama

How do you know when it's ripe though? Does it change colors? Is it soft? The ones I got were soft, but one of them seemed overripe once I sliced it open - it was kind of icky - I threw it away. I've always stayed away from papayas because I can't get it right!

i usually wait until it is soft. it is important to rotate it wherever you have it ripening. my last one started getting nasty moldy spots on the underside. it ended up still being good inside - it just didn't look pretty.

it's the same thing i do with mangos, only mangos take more time to ripen in my kitchen.

if you really want to speed things up, put them in a paper bag with a banana for a day or so.

[pampered_mom]

We were at the bottom of page three! Couldn't let us drop to page four! It's quite hot and humid right now - any ideas for cool you down summer treats?

[shelley4]

we've been making lots and lots of smoothie popscicles.. strawberry and banana, blueberry and soy yogurt; melon and apple juice. yum!

[PikkuMyy]

I just made smoothie popsicles yesterday! I had gotten 2 pints of strawberries for $4 at Whole Foods (local and organically grown!) and I had some very brown bananas on the counter that I wouldn't eat any way but cooked or smoothied. So I popped a banana in the blender with 1/2 C almond milk and a huge bunch of strawberries. I drank that smoothie and then it suddenly occured to me that I could make popsicles with the rest of the fruit so I whipped up another batch. I've never made popsicles with anything but just fruit juice before. YUM!! And such a nice way to prevent the extra from being wasted.

[LavenderMae]

Nice cold smoothies are great in the summer time. Ice cold watermelon is so very refreshing too!!!!!

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by PikkuMyy

I just made smoothie popsicles yesterday! I had gotten 2 pints of strawberries for $4 at Whole Foods (local and organically grown!) and I had some very brown bananas on the counter that I wouldn't eat any way but cooked or smoothied. So I popped a banana in the blender with 1/2 C almond milk and a huge bunch of strawberries. I drank that smoothie and then it suddenly occured to me that I could make popsicles with the rest of the fruit so I whipped up another batch. I've never made popsicles with anything but just fruit juice before. YUM!! And such a nice way to prevent the extra from being wasted.

Yummy! Good reminder - I've got some browner bananas on our counter, too! We'll have to make smoothies tomorrow morning for breakfast - good idea! I love the popsicle idea with smoothies, we really like the all fruit bars you can get in the store, but think they are much too sweet. This way I can control what goes in them. Hmmm...don't know why this never crossed my mind before.

So...what do you use for popsicles - do you have some specific popsicle type molds, or?

[LavenderMae]

Is anyone making something special for your dh tonight for father's day. I'm going to I just don't kow what yet. I'd love some tasty ideas!! Yep, waited until the last minute didn't I.

All last summer I kept a stocked bag of frozen bananas in the freezer just for smoothies(I need to stock up again). Choc. soy milk (or any kind of milk), frozen banana and a little peanut butter makes a really yummy treat for a hot summer day!

[mamatosage]

I was thinking of making a spinach and veggie lasagna for dinner, with salad and garlic bread.
I LOVE the smell of garlic bread in the oven.
DH is off golfing all day and will be super hungry.

[LavenderMae]

My dh loves garlic bread so that could be on the menu (he likes lasagna okay but not his favorite, it's on of mine though)! He also said he'd like garlic mashed ptoatoes, yum. I'm about to go oven roast a bulb of garlic in a bit. I still have no idea what I'll fix with them though.

[cathe]

I made the Chocolate Tofu Banana "Cream" Pie from "The Vegetarian Family Cookbook" for father's day dessert. It was scrumptious!

[Bearsmama]

Hi Mamas,
Thanks for the great suggestion for the smoothie pops. I have to remember to get those little popsicle cup-thingie (I know I could use dixie cups, too). Great idea.

I ended up doing something light for the FIL today: a farfalle with olives, green beans, feta, cherry toms, basil, parsley, etc. The recipe I used as guide is from Moosewood's New Classics. Great book. Not all vegetarian (some fish dishes, I think), but primarily veg recipes. I love the Moosewood books. The salad we had was mixed greens with sesame seeds, rosemary, and a dressing with olive oil, garlic, s&p, pure maple syrup. And served with a crusty italian bread. Yummo. I was planning on making these whole wheat rolls, but I lost my mojo somewhere along the line and got a loaf from the store.

[richella]

I feel so lame, we just went out today.

I did think of a way to use sunflower butter -- made cookies. I made a small test batch, about a dozen, then dh and I ATE THEM ALL. Will post the recipe when I finish tweaking.

[christapolis]

I usually fudge Sunday meals, I have to confess. Growing up, we never had a fixed dinner on Sundays, and I've just extended that to all Sunday meals, I guess.

I had fresh guacamole for lunch... and since I didn't feel like firing up the oven to make chips out of corn tortillas, I just popped 'em in the toaster. The first batch burned, but the rest were pretty darn good.

DH brought in bowls of fresh-picked kale and swiss chard from the garden, so I made a bean-greens-quinoa soup for dinner. Since I've been whipping up Asian curries and noodle dishes all week, the soup was probably the most 'normal' thing I've made in a long time!

[ColoradoMama]

I made a lasagna from a recipe out of the newest Vegetarian Times. It was vegan, and it was super yummy! I made marinara sauce (May All Be Fed recipe) for it. We had a fresh green salad and store bought garlic pull apart bread (mama was just too doggone tired to do bread, too!).

[LavenderMae]

My dh ended up wanting french bread pizza , which is super easy! I used store bought french bread and sauce (hey I'm preg and tired ) and we did have cow's cheese on it. I made one side with the garlic I had roasted, mushrooms, green onion, green pepper and fresh basil from our basil plant and the other one was just cheese. I also made a big salad. For dessert we had sundaes. I have really fallen of vegan wagon hard during this pregnancy.

[Bearsmama]

christapolis-Do you mind mentioning how you do your tortilla chips in the oven? I have a few bags of small-sized, fresh corn tortillas that I bought on sale last weekend. I would love to fire up the oven (even though it's going to be 90 degrees today) and make chips. I really am trying hard not to waste a thing over here. TIA.

[richella]

Originally Posted by Sheacoby

I have really fallen of vegan wagon hard during this pregnancy.

Do you think it's because you need something that's in the dairy foods? Or is it for other reasons? Just wondering.

[cathe]

Bearsmama - here's how I do oven chips. I did this in a cooking class for kids and they were a big hit with both kids and moms who came to pick up their kids.

Tortilla Chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Brush corn tortillas lightly with oil. Stack a few on top of each other. Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut then into eights. Lay the wedges on a cookie sheet and sprinkle lightly with salt. You can also sprinkle on some chili powder if you like them a little spicy.

Bake for 8 to 12 minutes, until crisp.

Note: You can try this with flour tortillas too but if they are large size, cut them into strips instead of wedges.

[Bearsmama]

Thanks, Cathe. I'll try them tomorrow. DH will especially love them with chili powder.

[shelley4]

i've been roasting some potatoes and onions together lately, and oh boy, yummy! a lil rosemary and salt, pepper.. it's great!