Cookie Disaster Bowl Sunday

It is Super Bowl Sunday, so I pretty much grazed throughout the day rather than eating standard "meals" per-say. I'm embarassed to admit it, but here's a list of all the crap I ate today from start to finish:

English muffin w/ strawberry jelly
Total Raisin Bran w/ soymilk
1 piece of Endangered Species chocolate
Chik'n Nuggets dipped in bbq sauce
Sweet Potato Fries dipped in ketchsup
Vegan Chocolate Chip cookie dough
An obsene amount of pretzels
1 liter of Sprite (that's right, I worked up a thirst watching the game!)
BK medium onion rings

The Vegan Outback Experience

Ironically, Outback Steakhouse has romantic significance for my husband and I, because that is where we went on our first "official" date and we also agreed to call each other our "boyfriend/girlfriend" that night as well. When I decided to be a vegan I had no misgivings that I would be expected to endure the occasional trip to Outback with my husband. He also happily received 2 gift cards for Outback this holiday season, and we used one of them to dine this evening.

The Outback Experience as a vegan is decidely different than when I was a meat eater, or even back in college as a vegetarian. There is very little on the menu that I can eat, and I guiltly decided to eat the bread and some bloomin' onion which based on internet information I know to contain egg. I also watched as my husband devoured a rack of bbq ribs and a mountain of cheese fries dipped in full fat ranch as we discussed the poor quality of the American diet.

It is hard to not be judgemental or cynical. I must admit that at times I felt myself becoming prideful compared to the carnivores pulling meat off with their teeth straight from the bone and dipping anything resembling a vegetable in lard surrounding me. But I also felt shameful for compromising some of my values too. It is a dilemma: do I let a place with fond pre-martial courtship memories be tainted by my vegan views? or do I lower my standards occasionally to maintain some marital bliss? I have no answers, but what I do know is that next time I plan to skip the bread and bloomin' onion, sneak in my own vegan salad dressing, and add an order of steamed veggies sans butter to my order.

Breakfast
Einstein Bros Everything Bagel with Hummus

Lunch
Subway 6" Veggie Sub
1 small can of Lima Beans
2/3 banana, and 1/4 orange

Dinner at Outback
4 small slices of pumpernickel bread dipped in olive oil/pepper blend
Small plate of Bloomin' Onion
1/2 of a sweet potato (lost the butter, kept the brown sugar!)
House Salad minus cheese and croutons, with oil and vinegar

My 20 Grams of Protein Vegan Dinner!

The first question non-vegans usually ask is: "How do you get enough protein?" I understand their concern, prior to becoming a vegan I had no idea that grains and veggies contain protein. Now I know better and can assure people that I get protein lots of different ways, but even I was excited to count up the protein grams in my dinner tonight. I had a can of vegetable barley soup, which did contain beans now that I think of it, but I got 12 grams of protein there. Then I made Pillsbury breadsticks, the kind that pop out of a can and you bake them, with 2 grams of protein each and I ate 4 of them! Viola! 20 grams of protein...now really who would have thought I could get all that from some vegetable soup and breadsticks without tossing in some tofu somewhere? I was thrilled, yum!

Breakfast
Whole Wheat Bagel with Peanut Butter and Plum Cherry Spread

Lunch
Leftover slice of pizza
Salad with salad confetti, croutons, and Light Balsamic Vingarette
Asian Pear

Snack
Pretzels
Honey Roasted Chipotle Peanuts

Dinner
1 Can Vegetable Barley soup
4 small breadsticks (for dipping!)

Vegan Enchilada Casserole

It was so fun grocery shopping with my husband last night, for some reason we both get happy around aisles and aisles of food! It was also fun whipping up this dish, although I would say that this recipe is still a work in progress. Be sure to check out my "what I would do differently next time" section at the end.

1/2 Bag Frozen Ore Ida Potatoes O'Brien (with onions and peppers)
Olive Oil
Small Corn Tortillas
1 can Black Beans
1 can Plain Yellow Corn (without cream sauce or anything)
1 big can of Enchilada Sauce

First I followed the instructions for cooking the frozen potatoes on the bag in olive oil over medium heat. I let them cook until they were no longer frozen and were somewhat soft but not crispy yet.

While potatoes are cooking, pre-heat oven to 375 and place a single layer of corn tortillas in a 13"x9" rectangular baking pan, drain canned black beans and layer them over the tortillas, cover with enchilada sauce, drain corn and layer over the black beans (they will mix together and that is fine), cover with enchilada sauce again, when potatoes are ready layer them on top of the beans and corn then cover with enchilada sauce, finally place another layer of corn tortillas on top and cover with enchilada sauce, place in oven for 20 minutes.

What I would do differently next time:
- we added pepper and chili powder after adding the potatoes and I think they competed with the enchilada sauce too much
- we usually use Olde El Paso brand enchilada sauce but this time went with the generic which was not as good, I would not make this mistake again
- the potatoes didn't soften in the oven as much as I expected them too, so I would cook them more thoroughly before adding them next time
- we left it in the oven for 20 minutes and I may let it stay 5 minutes longer next time to firm up a bit

Breakfast
Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich - I knew I had a lot of morning meetings today so this little sandwich was hearty enough to see me through to lunch time!

Lunch
Leftover Enchilada Casserole - Better the second day, isn't it funny how that happens!
Green Giant Immunity Boost Frozen Veggies - "Broccoli florets, julienne carrots and red and yellow sweet pepper strips in a garlic-herb infused extra virgin olive oil seasoning"

Snack
Sun Chips

Dinner
3 slices of cheese-less pizza with artichoke hearts, green peppers, and pineapple from Papa Murphy's (the best take and bake pizza place ever!)
Sweet Baby Greens Salad with salad confetti, croutons, and Light Balsamic Vingarette

Back to Reality

I almost forgot that I have job, like "Oh yeah, I have to go to work. I can't just hangout with my husband and family and have fun all the time....!" Another reality check was coming home to our pantry which I intentionally wiped out before we left, so I'm kinda flying by the seat of my pants as far as eating today goes. We plan on going grocery shopping tonight after I get off work. I'm hoping to look through my new vegan cookbooks for inspiration beforehand if possible. My husband and I both need to step up our food game now that we are back to reality, we basically chowed down on our trip. I was able to maintain my weight within my normal flux range but on the higher end of course. My husband was depressed this morning to find that he had gained about 7 pounds so I think he may be even more willing to eat some veggies this week...we'll see!

Breakfast
Whole Wheat Bagel with peanut butter and plum cherry spread

Snack
2 large strawberries and 3 grapes

Lunch
1 and 1/2 Taco Bell 5 Layer Burritos

Snack
Handful Raw Almonds
1/2 Handful dried Cranberries

Dinner
Enchilada Casserole
Sun Chips

Our Trip to NC the Highlights

I gave up on blogging about 2 days into our NC trip because my access to Internet was inconsistent, I was busy spending time with loved ones, and honestly I was pigging out so keeping track of everything I was eating proved to be a daunting task. But now I am back in Colorado Springs and ready to recommit myself to this blog. I actually have found it helpful, knowing that I will be posting on everything I eat seems to hold me more accountable for what/how much I eat.

However, before I move away from my vacation completely I would like to mention some of the highlights.

Top Vegan Eats on NC trip:

#1 - Once In a Blue Moon Bakery (http://www.bluemoonbakery.com/)

I got my wedding cake from this magical establishment before I was a vegan and mourned that I would never taste its goodness after becoming one, but...by the grace alone it just so happens that they make VEGAN CAKES!!! I ordered a Vegan version of their toasted almond cake for a family get together that went like this: 3 layers chocolate cake with amaretto liquor and vanilla frosting in between each layer, topped with vanilla frosting and toasted almonds. It was orgasmic...not to mention a big hit with the family who kept asking "You mean there's no eggs in this? no milk?" in disbelief.

#2 -Hush Puppies

Yes, I had to go to a place called "Smithfield's Chicken and Bar-B-Q" and watch my husband eat 4 (that's right 4) barbecue and coleslaw sandwiches to get them, but man were they good! After the woman in the drive-thru told me all they add is water to the mix I ate enough of them to make myself sick! I was in southern fried heaven!

#3 - The Peanut Roaster

Authentic North Carolina Roasted Peanuts in tons of fun to eat flavors: http://www.peanut.com/

#4 - Little Panda Express (actually in Columbia, SC)

Random Asian food restaurant in a Wal-mart shopping center served me the best bean curd and vegetable fast food stir-fry I've ever tasted hands down!

My first VWAV Recipe = SUCCESS!

Breakfast
VWAV Blueberry Waffles topped w/ sliced bananas and maple syrup
4 slices Smart Bacon

Lunch
Italian Bread w/ Balsamic Garlic Olive Oil or Roasted Red Peeper Hummus
Small Bowl of Homemade Chili

Snack
Brownies

Dinner
Fried Eggplant
Mashed Sweet Potato
Side Salad w/ tomato, cucumber, and Italian Dressing

Dessert
Brownie