Vegan stroganoff

I have resolved to make more meals at home and try a lot of new things.  One thing I definitely wanted to make was goulash.  I had the recipe from Vegan on the Cheap in mind, but when I got ready to cook yesterday, I realized it was a slow cooker recipe, and that it wouldn't work on the stovetop.  So I switched to stroganoff and after some searching (I still have some vegan sour cream in my fridge that I made from VotC) I found a stroganoff recipe in Vegan With A Vengeance.  Now, my kids hate mushrooms.  So those were out, and the original recipe calls for both porcini and small white mushrooms.  Besides, when I looked in the fridge for the mushrooms I had (bellas), they were nowhere to be found, and,  I suspect, had been thrown out by my ambitious kids when they cleaned out the fridge the other day.  Anyhow, another problem I had was that the original recipe calls for a cup of red wine.  Alison found a great substitute: cranberry juice with a dash of vinegar!  That really saved the day.

One of my triumphs yesterday was the seitan I made from Veganomicon (that recipe is simpler, and tastes better than the one from VWAV and is similar enough to the one in VotC).  Anyhow, the seitan was very meaty, and not brainy at all.  Chris said it tasted like ground beef to him - and Chris is a very picky eater.  Also, I used farfalle instead of eggless noodles or fettucine.  I think I would go with the fettucine if/when I make this again.  The farfalle were too thick.

You can imagine from just reading this post that I did a lot of cooking yesterday.  And that is quite correct: I was busy for two hours.  But the recipe, despite smelling kind of odd after I added the nutritional yeast, or nooch, actually tasted very good.  I will definitely make it again (perhaps sneaking in the mushrooms if I can!).

I am hoping that if I stay motivated in the kitchen, I can cut my eating expenses in half.  That, and truth be told, I am tired of eating out and not having any interesting food, because I don't eat meat and dairy.  Hopefully, our kitchen will become proof that, yes, you can cook without meat and dairy, and make delicious, interesting, enjoyable meals.

Muffins for church

Tomorrow is the third Sunday of the month.  We have fellowship after the service, and Brian wanted us to bake something for this.  So, we are baking the Banana-Wheat Germ Muffins from Veganomicon.  This is an entirely new recipe for me, so I am eager to see how they turn out.  They are baking as I write this.  I don't want to eat any of them tonight, but I am thinking we should try them just to see if they are good.  Maybe I will have Brian try one.

The rest of today's meals were good - pancakes from Vegan With A Vengeance for breakfast.  Lunch was General Tso's Tofu at Hunan Garden.  Then for dinner I made beans and rice (Amy cooked the rice a few days ago), and Roasted Brussels Sprouts for dinner.

This morning, after I dropped off the kids at the school (it was Tag Day where they go out and get donations for the music program), I had to take my mom to the medical lab to get blood work done.  For some reason, I was really jittery.  I finally had to leave her there, and go back to her house & get Chris to go pick her up.  It was kind of scary, and I'm not sure exactly what caused it.  One other negative thing - I haven't gotten to do any more water aerobics this week.  Next week I will do better.  Amy and I are both looking forward to Monday night. 

Back in the swim!

First night back at water aerobics last night - what a night!  I was a bit sore after class, but I took my diclofenac (for knee pain) and when I went to sleep, I slept like a LOG.  I woke up this morning, and felt GREAT!  And it's raining, which was a surprise, since often when it rains, my knees are more painful, especially my left one.  The class is as I remember it.  Daughter Amy went with me, and she said it only felt like 10 minutes in the water, rather than the hour the class lasted.  My goal this week is to go both Monday and Saturday.  Next week, I will add the Tuesday/Thursday cycling at 6 pm to the mix.  Then the next week, I will try to add another night of work on my own.  I may also try aqua Zumba, but that ends May 23rd.

Another change - small but good - asking for veggies instead of fries with entrees.

 Not sure what is for dinner tonight.  The kids have rehearsal until 5.

Update: On Friday, May 18th, I was weighed at the doctor's office.  I've lost 6 more pounds!  WOOHOO!