Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Last Visit to My Favorite City (At Least For A While)

The day after Thanksgiving was 55 and sunny, so I thought it would be a good day to visit my favorite city for the last time before we move. Nothing specific to do, just visit our old house and favorite places in the neighborhood. I will miss it so much!



Winter sun and trees make a striking landscape. You can see the art museum behind the trees. The "wings" open up daily and have a 218 foot wingspan!


It seemed much colder here with the wind whipping off the lake!


Must climb trees! Hohn bridge in background.



Surfers in Lake Michigan in November!


St. Mary's and Water Tower. The old hospital on the right, with the new Columbia-St. Mary's behind it.


The pavilion at Bradford beach. This reminds me of the pavilions in South Beach, except they are not made of brick!


Looking north on Bradford Beach. No one wanted to walk with me. Look at those white caps!


We ate at the Comet Cafe on Farwell. Love this place - makes both me and the Carnivore happy. I had the seitan Philly steak with a vegan nacho cheese sauce. Why can't my seitan taste like that? No cardboard here. In the foreground is the mashed potatoes with beer gravy. Only in Milwaukee!



This was the only good thing at my Thanksgiving dinner. It is a cranberry marinated and pan fried tofu. For some reason none of the side dishes were good! Don't know why - I have made them all before.


Had these for dinner the other night. They are really tasty. No nasty soy after taste. Yes, I know they are processed, but I just don't always want to eat beans!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Thanksgiving Message from a 7 Year Old

This was written by my daughter in school, without any prompting (or editing) from me:


"Please don't eat me for Thanksgiving dinner. I look better sitting at the table, not on it. I have a bad case of turkey pox and I will make you very sick. I'm too young to die. I'm a loving bird, not a meal. My meat's not ready yet. I'm so fat that I'll make you fat.

So you can see, I wouldn't be a good meal for Thanksgiving dinner."


Not sure where this came from - we don't talk much about things like this and we are an omnivorous household, with the extended family always making a huge deal about the turkey. Wow!

Also, they did an essay using the letters in "Thanksgiving" as the first letter of every sentence:

"G":  Giving thanks for what we eat. Making prayers for God.

"V": Vegetables all over the table. I love to eat with my family.

"I": Instead of turkey I eat cranberry sauce with my sisters.

"N": Now we're all happy together. We eat.

"G": Giving and doing good things is a good thing to do on Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving, however you celebrate!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Cheater Curry

Sautee in oil.



Add sauce and bring to simmer.
Add pressed, cubed tofu.



Add halved grape tomatoes. Simmer 15 minutes.

Add spinach, simmer 5 minutes.




Yum!



Serve over brown rice.


Can you tell where I like to shop?

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Beans for One


Here is something easy and delicious to add some protein to your dinner.

3 baby carrots, chopped
olive oil
2 T chopped onion
salt
1/2 c pinto beans
1 T tomato paste
1 bay leaf
dash soy sauce
scant 1 T paprika

Sautee carrots in oil until browned. Add onion, sprinkle with salt, and cook until browned. Add beans, tomato paste, bay leaf, soy sauce and paprika. Add water just to cover beans. Smash some beans against the side of the pot so the liquid will thicken. Cook about 12 minutes more, till sauce is the thickness you like. Serve over pasta.