24 Mar 2008: Easter Eating
Man, oh man. I think I've probably consumed more calories in the past two days than in the past two weeks. And it's been delicious. As promised, we started with donuts:
Want to know how to woo me? Say, 'Just pick out two that you want, and we'll split them.' Because, really, how are you supposed to decide on ONE? A bit later, I brought out the Veganomicon and got started on our vegan mac'n'cheese. It was S's idea -- I just did all the work.
The recipe uses a nutritional yeast 'cheese-y' sauce, mixed together with crumbled tofu and cooked noodles, and the whole thing gets baked in the oven. It was pretty amazing, although not exactly cheese-flavoured. It reminded me more of frozen mac'n'cheese than genuine homemade (or even Kraft). Thumbs up, all the way.
For Easter, my mom and I made pot pies. Well, I say 'we'. This time, it was my idea, but she did all the work. We used this recipe to a certain extent.
We made the full crust recipe, but halved everything else, because we wanted to make three pies that had both a bottom crust and a top crust. In place of the chicken and stock, we used Quorn Tenders and Imagine's No-Chicken broth. Other filling ingredients included carrots, peas, mushroom, lima beans, and potatoes. So good! The crust was really incredible, but the whole thing was exactly as I hoped it would be.
Dessert was something else wrapped in dough:
Apple dumplings! Yay. I do love chocolate-y, peanut-butter-y desserts, but lately I've preferred my sweet things to be tempered with the presence of fruit. Even when it's something as heavy and gooey as a dumpling, the apple just seems to be a bit of relief. Which you need, when you try to eat this AND a pot pie in the same day.
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21 Mar 2008: Equinoctial
Feeling equinoctial? Minnesota isn't. . . unless. . . maybe. . . do you think wires were crossed somewhere along the line, and we've actually been delivered the southern hemisphere's equinox? Because the three inches of snow that fell today (give or take an inch) do not say 'spring' to me. I had to combat the awful weather and low light with second breakfasts this morning:
I'm so excited about this Easter weekend. I shall list the reasons why: a four day weekend, chocolate, food, family, FOOD, and also -- almost forgot! -- food. Things I plan to eat in the next few days include (but are by no means limited to, oh no, no, no!): vegan mac'n'cheese, a donut, vegetarian 'chicken' pot pie, an apple dumpling and a lot of cereal. (A bowl of cereal is The Perfect Food. So satisfying to eat, AND it keeps you hydrated!)
S and I are planning our day tomorrow around the creation of the Mac Daddy mac'n'cheese recipe from the Veganomicon. The recipe has had great reviews around the blogosphere, so we're pretty excited. There may have been some LOLCats-speak involved when we were discussing the macaroni, and I swear it wasn't even on my part. S is lactose intolerant, and I almost never eat pasta, so it'll be an exciting day for us both.
But I'll admit that I'm (by leaps and bounds and entire marathons) the bigger food geek. And I'm preparing for all out geekery.
20 Mar 2008: My Favourite Places
So, this entry won't be terribly relevant to a lot of you, I know, but Lisa recently asked for my Twin Cities recommendations (sandwiches in particular). I don't think I know of any hidden gems, but I wanted to put together a list of some of my favourite restaurants -- maybe you'll find it helpful! Here's Minneapolis, for reference:
Like I've said before, I'm no foodie in the sense that I'm not really interested in 'gourmet' cuisine -- when I eat out, I want food that I either would make at home (but can't be bothered to for that meal) or that I WISH I could make at home (anything fried, amazing curries, etc, etc). So these are my tops:
The Seward Cafe -- This is the epitome of 'food I would make at home, but I want to eat out.' Beans and rice, tempeh scrambles, vegan biscuits and gravy, great big breakfast plates with hashbrowns, eggs, and veggies. . . I didn't even realize there were several extra pages of menu until the last time I was there. A whole host of sandwiches and lunch meals I never knew about!
Also like. . . Hard Times Cafe, though I've not actually been there yet. They recently reopened after an extended absence, so I'm looking forward to trying THEIR vegan biscuits and gravy.
The Triple Rock Social Club -- Okay, I've only had food here once (it's a bar/restaurant/venue), but I dream about going back. S and I shared a (Minneapolis-style) Po' Boy with vegan sausage, vegan nacho cheese, and BBQ (and fried potatoes and onions, on a HUGE white bun), and the one plate was more food than we could split. They also do vegan nachos, vegan mac'n'cheese, and loads of veggie options. The only downside is that there aren't very many tables, and you have to eat your amazing veggie food in a bar. But it's worth it.
Also like... Pizza Luce, which is a more traditional restaurant with several branches in the Twin Cities. I love their hoagies. I love their pizzas too. I've had their mock Muffeleta and mock sausage hoagie, and I'm looking forward to someday trying the pesto turkey and chicken dijon hoagies (vegetarian versions, of course). My pizza of choice is the Lil' Gracie, with either the Rinotta or soy cheese.
Nala Pak -- This is one of my perennial favourites (it used to be Udupi), north of Minneapolis, on Central. I don't like ordering off their menu since they changed ownership, but the buffet (for lunch every day, with BIGGER buffets on the weekends and holidays) is pretty much my idea of heaven. I always eat a painful amount of food, so I don't go very often anymore. Besides all of their fantastic curries and breads, etc, I love (LOVE) their homemade chocolate cherry ice cream. If they happen to be serving that AND gulab jamun, I'll just given in and spend the rest of the day in a food coma.
Other Indian and Nepali favourites... Namaste Cafe -- The best chai in the Twin Cities. I prefer this place for lunch rather than dinner. The Vegetarian -- I always get the Punjabi Thali for dinner. It's sooo much food that is sooo good! Everest on Grand -- A great lunch buffet here. Their steamed veggie momos are delicious.
French Meadow -- This is a good place if I have to go out with somebody who maybe isn't into spicy food (or who wouldn't be into the self-serve atmosphere of The Seward). They have a great menu, full of interesting veggie options. S and I went here late one night, just for cake and wine, and we still talk about it. French Meadow have a big stand at the Lyndale farmers' market in the summer, plus they seem to have taken over the MSP airport, which I find a little bit creepy (and -- wholly crap! -- expensive).
Also like... The Birchwood Cafe has some fun options, including a vegan Caesar salad, and their cakes are tops as well. I think of Both the Birchwood and French Meadow as being good sandwich places, although they obviously have loads of other choices. The Birchwood has a cinnamon/caramel roll which we dubbed 'The Sticky Fist of Sweetness' (if I remember correctly), and it's generally great for tasty breakfasts.
Okay, I could definitely go on and make this list a million miles long, but I'll stop here. Possibly to return in future installments. I really like to eat, after all.
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19 Mar 2008: Standing Up
If I had to pick a theme tune for the past couple of months, it might be this. Except for the bit about heartbreak -- so, you know, most of it. Just the 'I can't stand up for falling down' bit. You just start to get used to something, start to feel pretty good, and then the next thing comes along. Hello, life.
Somebody is going to have to break it to Booty that we no longer live in a two-basket-per-cat world. Yes, these are both his baskets (Beany only sleeps on the back of the sofa), and yes, they're right next to each other. A cat needs options. I've seen him jump from one to the other, but I don't know what his criteria are for choosing the best basket.
So, hey, guess what? I only spent $18.50 on groceries in the last week. Never mind that I'd had a big stock-up right before, or that I'll need to have another tomorrow. I'm still feeling better about keeping within my $60-a-week grocery budget.
I think I'll start taking cash out each week for various expenses, and pocket the left over for either a treat at the end of the month or to deposit back into savings. I don't think things like groceries will actually be too big an issue -- I'm very good at setting a limit and staying within it -- but other little things can really add up if they're coming off my debit card in bits in pieces.
But enough of that money nonsense -- back to cats!
A lot of people come over to my house and say, 'I don't really like cats. . . except Beany.' She's pretty irresistible. They're both very gregarious, actually, but Beany is shameless in her quest for affection. She's like a dog (which is why non-cat people like her), but without all the loud noises, wet noses, and clumsy feet that dogs come with.
This afternoon we played fetch inside the house, me on the sofa and her galloping back and forth between me and kitchen. After a couple few dozen fetches, she seemed to be taking longer to return, and she eventually flopped on the sofa, exhausted and warm to the touch. Even the most unstoppable cats wear out eventually!
One last thing: this is what my kitchen hutch looks like now. The paper was a whopping $1, on clearance at Michaels, and it look pretty darn nice, if I do say so myself. And I do.
14 Mar 2008: Plants and Plans
I've been keeping an eye on my oregano plant, picking off leaves at the slightest hint of infection, and today I decided to just cut off all the existing long stems, to give the new growth the best chance possible.
Despite my earlier brutality, it seems to really be thriving, so I think it'll survive this latest butchering. It seems much happier since I put it in its own pot -- in my experience, parsley (which it was planted with before) has a root system like none other, so I think the oregano was probably gasping for a drink of water in the old pot. Here it is on the plant shelf:
I taped up the pretty paper today, but I have yet to do below the shelf (where the cats eat). I think the toughest thing about my new budget will be ignoring all the whims that flit into my head -- all the little projects like this. They never cost much, but they do add up.
Speaking of budgets and whimsy (or ridiculousness), some paper equine friends:
The background is my March journal's cover -- a print of a photograph I took at Kew Gardens a couple of years ago. The horses looked on (encouragingly) while I totaled up the numbers and then stared forlornly into space (me, not them). See, it turns out I spent an average of $400 a month on food last year (just over that, actually). I'm going to have to halve that this year, at least.
A lot of the suggestions on the last post were to do with grocery shopping. Honestly, the idea of shopping only once a week (much less twice a month!) seems impossible to me. Even twice a week is stretching it -- admittedly, mainly because I don't plan THAT well in advance. But how do you buy enough bananas for a week without them being manky by day five? I'm going to have to replace some of the fresh fruits I buy (namely, strawberries and blueberries) with their frozen brethren, at least until the farmer's market opens.
There's also the fact that cooking (and eating) is my main hobby these days. That sounds sad, I've been told. On one hand, it's a good thing, as I DO have to eat anyway, but on the other hand, it means I'm REALLY loath to rein in the spending. I know that there are changes and adjustments I can make, but from where I'm standing now, I just feel like I don't splash out for particularly fancy things and I don't waste very much either -- so it's hard to see where the corners are for cutting.
One thing I will definitely put an end to (as I tried to last July) is shopping as a hobby. Totally unacceptable. It should actually be easier now, as it's not a matter of putting an end to a bad habit or feeling like I should direct my energy elsewhere. There just simply isn't the money for it. It's off the board, not up for consideration. There, glad we've decided on that.
I know all this isn't particularly inspiring or light-hearted, but it's something I can't just pretend isn't going on right now. I hope that by talking about the frustrations and asking for suggestions, that I really will change my behaviours (which, I have to say, have always been well within the limits of acceptable -- if not stingy at time -- just, it turns out, not within the limits of my budget).
So, here's a question to end with, if you've got this far. Has anybody found a way to save money by shopping at ethnic supermarkets? Some things are obviously cheaper -- curry powders and other relevant ingredients which would wind up as higher-price 'specialty' items in a regular shop. But are there other great deals to be found there?
13 Mar 2008: Hamster of Plenty?
This little drawing is from a while ago, but I need a visit from the Hamster of Plenty. Things are going to need to change around here, because while I used to have some money, soon I will have no money! And soon? The government will have my money instead. They seem to want more money than I actually have in the bank, so I'm working on a solution to that small problem. Bother.
Some good things:
-- I like challenges. Perhaps it will be FUN finding a way to spend 25% less this year. Yeah!
-- Even though my gym membership is a new expense, at least it will provide a useful diversion from shopping. Not only will I save money, I will be fit and attractive! Take that, federal government!
-- Since I won't have money for new clothes, I can finally learn how to take in all my old stuff that no longer fits. Resourceful.
-- I managed to get two cases of Almond Breeze from Fresh and Natural (for $2 a box), so at least I can survive on that for a while.
What sorts of things have you done or are you doing to save money? Truthfully, things like buying bulk almond milk aren't going to save the kind of money I need to be saving, even if pennies do add up. A shopping moratorium is definitely on the table for the next, like, ten months. Should I rent out the cats? Only eat lentils?
p.s. -- Discovering the Fresh and Natural Foods store out in Plymouth was the silver lining to my car dying a while back. I had to drive around after it was jumped, so I went straight west, and drove and drove, and there it was. Hooray silver linings.
09 Mar 2008: Weekending
What do you do when life hands you two punnets of grossly seedy blueberries? Why, you make blueberry lemonade, of course!
I just boiled down the berries with a bit of water and then strained out the seeds to make a sort of blueberry syrup. Easy peasy, and no blueberries gone to waste. I've got the leftover syrup (I only needed a Tbsp or two for my lemonade) in an old blueberry yogurt container -- I hope I don't forget I've put it in there and just assume I've bought some REALLY fruit-heavy yogurt!
Aren't weekends the best? I have to admit, I was a little disappointed when I realized a moment ago that it's actually Sunday today, not Saturday, but oh well. And the whole daylight savings jobbie meant there was a bit of rushing to yoga this morning. But now I'm back home and relaxing, watching 'An Audience with Elton John,' on BBC America. Very excellent.
Isn't it funny how we go through food phases? I generally love falafel, but I tend to forget about it for months on end. Actually, I had some phenomenal falafel (fanomalafenel for short) in January -- there's an amazing Lebanese restaurant in Oxford -- but I've only in the last week got back into making it for myself. From a mix. Even snobs need shortcuts.
But this is my plan for tonight. I can hardly wait!
05 Mar 2008: Days are Getting Longer
I give you A Cat, a Purse, a Tray (on Table):
The thing about trying to photograph the Booty Cat is that the more you call his name, the more firmly interested he gets in whatever is next to him (and thus, not in your direction). On the edge of my vision, though, I could see Beany practically hopping up and down. "Me, me! Take MY picture! I can look off into the distance and appear thoughtful!" Beany, she has known the camera from a tender age. Too bad I didn't focus properly.
So here's Booty. It's five in the afternoon, and not only is the sun still out, it doesn't have the feeling of disappearing over the horizon at any second. I can almost imagine what it will be like in a few months time, when the days stretch on and on. It's strange what a different headspace even thinking about that puts me in. I've never thought of myself as particularly affected by the seasons, but this winter has definitely made me feel trapped by the cold and short days. So let's forget about all this snow and sub-freezing temperatures and get on with spring already, okay?
Two food related things: Sadly, it turns out I will NOT be receiving my two cases of Almond Breeze from Trader Joe's, as planned. They don't actually sell the unsweetened original variety, so I will have to look elsewhere for potential bulk-buying. (I'm assuming the person I spoke to at TJ's on Monday thought that vanilla is original -- as they do stock unsweetened vanilla -- but not so.)
Secondly, it's no secret that I'm a food snob, although I wouldn't call myself a foodie -- I don't care at all about fancy restaurants. But good food is important to me, and while I don't give a toss what my friends and family eat (nobody would like me if I did), I'm perfectly happy to judge people I don't know. Like the lady in front of me in line at the grocery store. From her cart to the belt: bologna, potato chips, white bread, microwave meals, tins of high-sodium soup, sugar cereals. And an impressive collection of vitamin and mineral supplements. Oh no, where were MY supplements? Oh, that's right, my food actually has food in it.
Okay, stepping off my snobbery soap box (yeah, right).
03 Mar 2008: Pests and Perks
Oh dear. I had to get brutal with my herbs today. I bought a couple of basil plants, oregano, and flat-leaf parsley in January, all from the same store. The basil is currently infested with aphids, and the oregano and parsley (which I put in the same pot) have spider mites. No coincidence, I think, considering I've never had a pest problem before with house plants.
The basil got a heavy spray down in the sink today, which did a tiny amount of good, but I think I'll have to reluctantly look for some spray to take care of its problem. I repotted the other two plants (separately) and cut off all the damage. The new growth seems unaffected at the moment, so fingers crossed, everybody.
It's hard to see what's going on there (I just like the light), but suffice to say that it used to be a very big plant, and now it's a teeny tiny plant. The good thing about parsley, in my experience, is that it grows like crazy, and all the old growth seems to die off on its own, anyway. I've really come to rely on having my own basil and parsley growing at home, so let's hope the little guy pulls through.
Hey, guess what I'm currently excited about! It's not the big checks I had to write to pay my health insurance bill or my GP (you would think the one would do away with the need to pay the other, but you would be wrong). No, it's the money I'll save by having just ordered two cases of Almond Breeze from Trader Joe's!
I always have fun shopping at TJ's, but it's not very convenient, and they never have everything I need -- so I rarely go. They DO, however, have the cheapest Almond Breeze I've ever seen ($1.99 a carton vs $2.69 at the co-op or $3.50+ from the regular supermarket). I go through two or three cartons a week (I am powered by the goodness of almonds, clearly), so we're talking almost twenty whole dollars saved each month.
Which almost makes up for the rise in health insurance prices. But not really. But kind of!
02 Mar 2008: Some Favourites
The days are starting to get noticeably longer now -- thank goodness. Still, by 6:00, the light is almost gone; I snapped this photo the other day around that time, because I liked how mellow and blue everything was.
Some things I've been loving lately:
-- Quinoa. Why did it take me so long to try this? (A: Because I'm lazy.) Delicious! I've been eating it a lot with black or pinto beans cooked with onion and lettuce-tomato-salsa-etc.
-- Apples. I was always really 'meh' about apples, but I've been eating one almost every day for the past few weeks. I think it's the combination of crisp Pink Lady apples and my apple slicer. It just makes eating them so satisfying.
-- Yoga. I'm getting to the point where I'm noticing improvements. I have a hard time challenging myself to go that little bit further when it comes to forms of exercise that aren't running, but I'm getting better at recognizing when my brain wants to give up vs what my body can do while doing yoga too.
And, of course, one of my top favourite things is that it's March! February is over! Phew.