Hello! I have to admit that I’m am thoroughly enjoying my new schedule that started this week. For the most part, I will have Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays “off” until May! I say “off” simply because I don’t have to be anywhere on those days, but believe me, there is still plenty to get done! I’ll have three online graduate courses starting on Monday (no commuting this semester, yay!) and I’ll still be working two jobs in addition to graphic design freelance work that is picking up right now, and blogging. Think I bite off more than I can chew? Yeah, sometimes I do too, but it keeps things interesting!
This morning began similarly to yesterday with a green smoothie. Evan made it for us though! This concoction was rice milk, OJ, avocado, and a half pound of spinach. That’s it! Simple and delicious.
Later I made oats with:
- 1/3 cup oats
- 1/3 cup rice milk
- 1/3 cup water
- goji berries
- chia seeds
- agave nectar
- shredded coconut
- cinnamon
- walnuts
Love the plum colored bowl.
Kept me full until lunch! While I whipped up dinner to put in the dehydrator around noon (keep reading), I cooked 1 cup of dry couscous with 1.5 cups vegetable broth, and a 1/2 tsp each of onion powder, garlic powder, cumin and pepper. I topped the couscous with black beans and raw cashew pizza cheese and ate it with a spinach salad with raw ranch dressing.
I spent part of my afternoon at the doctor getting my body worked on, then came home to the fragrant smells of raw falafel in the dehydrator. I was craving some falafel around lunchtime, but didn’t want to fry or bake any. I decided that I could wait until dinner, so I Googled a recipe for raw falafel and just happened to have all of the ingredients for the first one that popped up.
I’m in love. These are PERFECT. They aren’t made with the usual chickpea base. Instead, almonds are used and are welcomed by me! Incredibly authentic and delicious, they taste just like the falafel at the local Pita Pit or Hummus House.
Aren’t they beautiful? Good thing there are 36 to eat!
You can make this in your oven if you do not have a dehydrator. As noted on the original recipe site, the outside just needs to dry out a little bit. I recommend NOT adding the 3/4 cup of water the recipe calls for. I did this and got soup. Luckily I had some almond flour on hand and used that to rethicken the dough (I used over 1 cup). Instead of making the mistake I did, you can blend all of the ingredients in your food processor without the water and add the water slowly until you get a slightly sticky, doughy consistency, that can be rolled into small balls.
We had them on a bed of romaine with some Tangy Tahini Sauce (I halved the recipe).
I made some homemade salsa as well.
- 3 tomatoes
- 1 cup cilantro
- 1 jalapeno pepper
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 2 tbsp cumin
- hot sauce to taste
- sea salt to taste
I made the salsa on Variable 4 in my VitaMix, but you could make it in a food processor as well.
With some blue corn chips…
Amazing dinner!!!
And for dessert, I was craving a cold, chocolate milkshake. I think this makes me crazy because it’s so cold in Florida right now but I went with it.
In the VitaMix went:
- rice milk
- cacao powder
- agave nectar
- coconut oil (!!!)
- cinnamon
- ice
- pinch of sea salt
Mmmmm….
Every meal today was amazing! I fully appreciate the potential of homemade, fresh foods. Especially raw, vegan ones! And I used my Vita at least 4 times today. I don’t know how I lived without it. Lindsey just got her Christmas VitaMix today and I can’t wait to see what she creates with hers as well!
Do you prefer to stay in and make your own food? Or is going out to restaurants more appealing to you? Before I started a vegan diet, I loved going out for food. As a vegan, that is obviously more difficult now, but I still love going to my favorite vegan-friendly restaurants as a break from the kitchen. I’m realizing, though, that I can make delicious foods in my own kitchen, that can’t be replicated at any restaurant and that’s really empowering!
Hope you’ve had a great day! It’s almost FRIDAY and I have some fun plans coming up this weekend!
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Yay for this weekend!!! I can’t wait until Sunday, and Saturday to finally meet you!
[Reply]
yum! these look and sound delicious! and i want that bowl. ihave got to get myself over to anthropologie!
[Reply]
I’m ready for the weekend, too! Do you cook your spinach at all before making your green monstr?
[Reply]
I prefer to make my own meals at home, and eat out once a week as a treat.
Nicci@NiftyEats´s last blog ..Mondays Meatless Wonder
[Reply]
I much prefer to eat at home… more so when I have a full fridge from Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. Is it weird to daydream about food shopping? Seriously…
But as a vegan, I am limited too. I do satisfy cravings for veggie sushi/age tofu/seaweed salad and authentic Punjabi Indian including chana masala and roti about once a month.
I’ve practiced, so I feel comfortable saying this.. but I’m a damn good cook, so I’d rather eat home. Fortunately my husband concurs!
[Reply]
That looks like delicious falafel – falafel is one of my favorite foods, yum!!
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) ´s last blog ..Tea and Toast
[Reply]
Wow. All of your eats look so good. You did a great job of putting your VitaMix to work! And, the raw falafel looks awesome. I need to save that recipe.
I like to eat at home for the most part, but eating out every once in a while is a fun treat.
[Reply]
Gah! What an incredible round of up raw eats. Love it, and love your new layout!!
[Reply]
I have the same plum colored bowl!!! I LOVE it too…it really makes the colors of my food stand out and look incredibly vibrant.
I wish I could try a bite of the falafel….
Michelle´s last blog ..Bootleg Kashi Sesame TLC’s
[Reply]