Vegging Out

For the next 10 days I am joining my daughter in the goal of eating more fruits and vegetables and less animal products.

(Not eliminating. Just decreasing)

I tried a recipe for black bean burgers yesterday. They were very good.  But the leftovers were even better!

The recipe makes 6 burgers and they are very filling. While Dad and Son were eating grilled kielbasa on Labor Day. Mom and Daughter had black bean burgers instead. With cumin and cilantro, there was a definite Tex Mex flavor.

Here is the link to the recipe. It's a "keeper."

Avery's current favorite breakfast

My Monster Bagels

buttered, toasted "plain" bagel with cheese, egg and sausage

~definitely not "a veggie tale"~

Do you ever watch Food Network's Cupcake Wars? I saw the episode in which this very cupcake was a winner. A young vegan chef, Chloe Coscarelli, won against bakers of traditional egg and butter cupcakes. I took a look at Coscarelli's food blog and I will be trying some of her recipes. In fact, I can't wait!

I'll share my ups and downs over the next 10 days of "vegging out."

Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake
Photo credits: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/06/tasty-vegan-food-cupcakes-show-it-can-be-done/?partner=rss&emc=rss

With all of the great new vegan and vegetarian recipes, how about you, are you eating less animal products?
One more thing ~ All of us in our house have complained about a lack of energy and overall fatigue lately. While it could be a part of the grieving process, we are all sick and tired of being tired and having low energy. (I'm still running however!) Hopefully I can find a quick fix for our energy ebb!
As Family Manager, this falls to me. Got any ideas for us? Help a mother out!

Opa! It's Greek to Me...except the squash

OPA!

Every February we like to attend the Greek Festival in our community. We go for the culture ~ the live Greek band, the Hellas dancers, and the mosaic icons.

Let's keep it real. We go for the FOOD!!!

What's your culinary pleasure? Souvlaki, pastichio, lamb shanks

spanakopita, or tiropita?

Last year we had a sampler plate complete with stuffed grape leaves, dolmathes. This year we went simpler and had a gyro and Greek fries.

My gyro and Greek seasoned fries!

Our Favorite Greek Nurse

Our favorite nurse from the hospital in Colorado was visiting her family in Florida and we ran into her at the Greek Festival! Opa!We chatted, met her mother and took some pictures. She took good care of me, too, during One Fine Man's hospital stay.

Our night is not complete until we visit the lovely Greek ladies at the Philoptochos pastry booth. (philoptochos means friends of the poor.)

We like the galaktobouriko, baklava and the thiples.

One Fine Man, Guitar Girl and I enjoyed the pastries at home with coffee. Our boys opted for pizza. They do not enjoy the pastries either.

They called our goodies "old people's desserts." That's okay. More for us "old people."

Pictured are: baklava - Say: bak-la-VA - Dessert made with flaky filo layered with butter and walnuts and topped with a honey-flavored syrup;
galaktobouriko - Say: ga-lak-to-BOU-ree-ko - Custard wrapped in layers of buttered filo and topped with a honey-flavored syrup;
and thiples - Say: THEE-ples - Pastry deep fried and rolled with drops of honey
A cinnamon cookie - I don't know the Greek name for that one.

One Fine Man & Bella~Mella

Now for the not so Greek...

The next night we had spaghetti and fried squash at home because nothing is as American as mixing your cultural cuisine. I could eat a plate full of these little fried beauties all by myself. Wait. I think I did. Forget the spaghetti!

Fried yellow squash

Recipe

Rinse squash and brush well with vegetable brush. Slice away any brown spots. Cut the top end down by about 1". Slice the bottom off 1/4". Heat canola oil in your black skillet. Slice squash into thin even rounds. I put Martha White cornmeal mix on a plate (w/salt). Dust the squash rounds in the cornmeal. It will stick b/c the squash is naturally moist. When your oil is hot enough, drop one layer of squash in skillet. Don't overlap. When the top side is golden brown, gently flip over with a fork to brown the other side. Remove with a slotted spatula and let drain on paper towels. Add more salt. I use sea salt for everything! Continue to add the remainder of your squash. Try not to eat the first batch as you stand there frying the remainder. Or maybe that's just ME. You may have to adjust the temperature of your oil to keep it from burning. You can use the same process on zuchinni but I prefer the squash. They're better than french fries! REALLY. HAPPY FRY~DAY!

Sauteed squash
I also like squash and zuchinni like this: sauteed in olive oil with onion and Italian seasoning. Salt & pepper when done.

To read My Monday Magnificat go here.