Potato and brussel sprout gratin

I ordered a load of local brussel sprouts and local potatoes. Since I don't even like them that much, I figured I have to do SOMETHING with them. So I found a recipe that sounded quite good. And it is!

Potato and brussel sprout gratin
about 5 or so yukon gold potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
About 3/4 lbs of brussel sprouts thinly sliced
vegan butter to saute brussel sprouts
onion powder or onions to saute with the sprouts
1/4 cup white wine
1/2 cup soy milk
vegan parmesean cheese


Saute brussel sprouts, onion powder, and butter for about 8 minutes. Add white wine, and soy milk. Grease a casserole dish and layer potatoes, salt, pepper, brussel sprouts, and cheese, ending with a layer of potato and cheese.

Southern Night

After a nice run and swim combo I was imagining a really yummy Southern inspired meal. I had BBQ Riblets in the freezer (Garden Burger) and wrapped them in foil and put them in the oven for about 20 minutes.

I made this recipe from FreshDirect.
Mashed Cauliflower
6 cups water
Kosher salt
1 pound cauliflower, separated into medium-sized florets
2 tablespoons Earth Balance
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup grated cheese (Vegan version)
White pepper


1. Pour the water into a heavy bottomed pot, add 1 1/2 tablespoons salt, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the florets and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain.

2. Return the florets to the pot over low-medium heat and cook for 3 minutes to evaporate any excess liquid. Add the Earth Balanc, oil and cheese. Break up the florets and incorporate the other ingredients with a potato masher, and season generously with salt and pepper. Add small can canned corn (I used just regular sweet corn, I bet creamed would be even better).

I also made the store-brand boxed corn muffins and veganized the recipe.

All in all, it turned out quite good!

I like the mashed cauliflower better with a little mustard mixed in as well.

Lazy Days

Since I took a nap today, I didn't really feel like cooking for myself. So I just plopped in some tortellini with spinach and cheese. I took some Amy's Organic Basil Tomato sauce and added a bit of my quickly going south spinach. It was a quick and easy meal. I supplemented with leftover Arugula Visscysois (sp?).

Then I got the urge to use up some bananas because, for some reason, I bought too many bananas. So I made a vegan banana bread to bring to work tomorrow. I used my momma's recipe, and veganized it.

Veg*n Triathlete's Momma's Banana Bread
Preheat Oven to 350 F (not 400 like I did today)
Blend til creamy: 1/2 c vegan butter (melted), 1 c organic granulated sugar
Beat 3 Tbs hot water and 2 tsp Egg Replacer; add to above
Add 4 mushed up bananas (the older the better)
Add 2 c (whole wheat) flour, 2.5 tsp baking powder, .5 tsp salt
Add a hand-full or more of dried blueberries (or anything else you want)
Bake 1 hour

Then I felt the need to use up the remaining salvagable spinach. It only turned out to be about a cup. So I used my momma's pesto recipe as a very rough base, since I had nothing it called for except pine nuts and garlic. I call it:

Spinach and Arugula Pesto
1 c spinach + 2 handfulls arugula
1/4 c Hazelnut oil
1/4 c pine nuts
1/4 c vegan parmasan grated cheese
1 clove garlic

Whirl all together in a small food processor. I froze it for later.

A dinner in 3 parts

The first part was an attempt to do something interesting with arugula. I don't even particularly like arugula but a) I need more leafy greens, b) I was told to buy local produce and that's what was in stock, c) it's good for you!

Behold Arugula Vichyssoise

1/4 cup chopped white and pale green part of leek, washed well
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 small russet potato, peeled, grated coarse and reserved in water to cover
2 cups low salt chicken broth
2 cups packed arugula, washed well and spun dry
3 tablespoons soy milk


In a small heavy saucepan cook the leek with salt and pepper to taste in 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderate heat, stirring, until it is softened, add the garlic, the potato, drained and the broth and simmer the mixture, covered, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the potato is very soft. Stir in the arugula, simmer the mixture, covered, for 1 minute and in a blender puree it in batches for 2 minutes, or until it is completely smooth. Transfer the puree to a metal bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and cold water, stir in the half and half and chill the soup, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until it is cold. Serves 2

The second part was a quest for some quick cooking carbs. I settled on Israeli couscous again and was going to serve it with leftover curry slop that I made the other day. Only that smelled funky. So...

The third part turned out to be a veggie burger cooked on a skillet with some cheddar cheese melted over it. Not classy, but yummy. I served that on top of the couscous.

Lastly, to drink, I had some Goji Juice. Goji is a Tibetan fruit which has lots of potassium, protein, and amino acids etc. Good for you anyway. Oh, and made some iced green tea...decaff...