Sunny With A Chance of Birthdays & Baby Showers!

Well today is my 29th birthday, ahhh! This year flew! Flew I tell ya.

Let me back up a tiny bit. Thanksgiving was small this year but so amazing. Our 5th Annual Friendsgiving was delightful and full of food and good friends, old and new. We had a blast. We spent it with my pals from college whose kiddos I babysit for. It was great to be with the 4 of them and to meet 4 of their pals from Vegas. Joe and I made Polish dill mashed potatoes, New Orleans style sweet potatoes, garlic glazed green beans, chestnut stuffing, homemade caesar salad, and pumpkin pie. All vegan of course! Our pals made turkey which Joe loved since it was the first he's had in 4 years since I became vegan. I didn't partake but I certainly filled up on sides! Such a feast! And we watched Frosty Returns 6 times, Frosty 2 times, and Alvin & the Chipmunks Christmas specials 3 times per the kiddos requests. We also watched my Detroit Lions win big. It was great.

Friday I had a cast photo shoot for my upcoming show as my last level in the Second City Hollywood Conservatory. The photo shoot was such a blast and we used my favorite L.A. photog Miss Kate Compton! It was such a blast and I cannot wait to share the photos with everyone and for our show to open January 6, 2014 (7pm at the Second City Studio Theater Hollywood). Please follow our show on Facebook (Me, My Selfie, & I), Instagram (memyselfieeandi), and Twitter (@MeMySelfieeAndI) and come support us! I followed that up with babysitting, to keep myself humble.

Then Saturday we moved a bunch of our stuff from our apartment to a storage unit we got. This is to make room for the ever growing pile of stuff we are receiving for Little Dude. He is going to be here SO SOON! AHHHH! January is so close and he is so big (already about 4lbs. 6oz.). Then I went to rehearsal for the aforementioned show. Then I did a shift interning at Second City Hollywood. Followed that up with making pasta salad for 20 ladies for my baby shower. Then folded about a month's worth of laundry. I didn't go to sleep until 3:30am. Not the wisest decision...

Today I woke up, Joey brought me breakfast in bed, the pups snuggled me-great start to my 29th year! Then I made vegan rice krispie treats, homemade caesar salad, and Joe made buffalo cauliflower whilst I showered and got ready. Then I went to my Birthday Party/Baby Shower. It was so lovely! Loads of food, good friends, well wishes, very thoughtful gifts for little man (and a few for me too), and some major laughs and fun. It was such a lovely afternoon. Then Joe whisked me home where I have been resting with my feet up. A pretty great day  full of loads of calls, texts, messages, etc. for me and my little dude. I am so grateful for all the love being showered on us.

Next up for us is putting up our Christmas tree & decorations! I love this season. I can't wait to curl up in pjs and watch feel good holiday movies and snuggle with my pups (and Joe if I can beg him hard enough). And sooner than later Little Man makes his big entrance! I can't wait to meet him and snuggle him up too. Yay for this season! :D

Take care dear Chickens!




 

Partly Sunny With A Chance of Products!

I thought I would weigh in on some of the products I am loving in the midst of my pregnancy. SO here we go:

1) Anything Acure brand. I've used their shampoos and conditioners, their facial cleanser & creme, their brightening facial scrub, their radical resurfacing lotion and day cream, their toner, their argan oil, and their line eraser and eye cream for a long while now. BUT I recently have fallen head over heels for their body lotions. These suckers are so moisture packed (great for a dry skin and for pregnancy issues like stretch marks and itchy boobs) and are thicker without being heavy. They're amazing! I've tried all 4 and I love them all. Currently I'm using the mandarin orange scented one and it wakes me up in the AM and smells so fresh. Ladies (pregnant or not) try Acure Organics brand anything, I dare you not to fall in love with it. Acure Organics

2) Earth Mama Angel Baby brand Nipple Butter. This stuff is AMAZING. Not just for your nips but for cuticles and dry areas like elbows and knees. Smells delicious too, sort of chocolatey. Nipple Butter

3) Mother's Blend Oil. So frigging delicious smelling, like chocolate almonds. It is sheer and not heavy as some oils can be. It is super moisturizing. I love it! Mother's Special Blend

4) Oh Baby! by Motherhood brand pants from Kohl's. I was having major issues finding pants long enough to fit me being 6' tall. Most maternity pants looked like capris on me. This brand though-thank goodness for them! My pants fit my growing belly and are long enough to cover my entire leg. Huzzah. I also got a few cute tops from them too. All were affordable and super comfy so good work Kohl's for helping us tall pregnant gals out! Oh Baby! by Motherhood

5) Liz Lange maternity tops from Target. They're long, again I'm tall y'all. I need long clothes. Apparently most pregnant women aren't as tall as me so everything is WAY too short on me. Liz though, she makes some long tops for me, they cover and hit where a shirt should and have room for my growing bump. Thanks Liz! Liz Lange tops

6) La Leche sports bra for nursing. No under wire, size 36G for my giant boobs, ultra comfy, surprisingly supportive. I am in love with this new purchase from zullily.com. Fantabulous! La Leche Blue Bra

7) Traditional Medicinals' Organic Pregnancy Tea. It's tasty, caffeine free, and supports healthy pregnancies. Good work. Tea Time!

8) TOMS shoes. As my feet swell with edema and look like flat boards with sausage links attached as toes I am loving my TOMS more and more. They accommodate my large tootsies, are comfy, are vegan, and have stretched with me. My feet and sausage toes thank you TOMS. Vegan TOMS

So that is it for now in the products I love for pregnancy. Try them out, most are great pregnant or not! :D


 

Sunny With a Chance of Thanksgiving!

So our Annual Friendsgiving was a blast! Great friends (old & new) came out to play and we served a feast for everyone. We like to provide all the food and just ask guests to bring beverages to share. And share they did! We had loads of wine, beer, spirits, juice, cider, coffee donated to the party-it was lovely. We served the following menu (all of which is 100% vegan):

Apps:
-sundried tomato dip with homemade bread
-herby tofu dip with homemade bread
-grilled cheeses (made with 3 different kinds of Daiya and homemade bread) & tomato basil soup shooters

Salads:
-Caesar salad with homemade dressing & croutons from scratch
-warm spinach salad with a maple balsamic dressing

Mains & Sides:
-vegan short ribs in & red wine sauce
-vegan pork chops with spinach, sundried tomato, & soy goat cheese schmear with gravy
-mashed potatoes and gravy
-Cuban style sweet potatoes
-sweet potato, banana, & pecan casserole
-garlicky green beans
-brussell sprouts with granny smith apples & red onions
-cranberry chutney
-chestnut stuffing

Desserts:
-homemade pumpkin pie with homemade crust & coconut whipped cream
-apple crisp with vanilla soy ice cream
-peach & blueberry crumble with vanilla soy ice cream
-almond thumbprint cookies with homemade raspberry jam

Needless to say EVERYONE was STUFFED. And it was all animal friendly & I adopted a turkey named Gable this year from Farm Sanctuary that everyone loved. We posted her story on the dessert table so everyone knew who they were supporting by eating a vegan Friendsgiving. We also have a tradition where you have to name at least one thing you are thankful for before you can eat and let me tell you they were wonderful things to be thankful for. I teared up a few times. I am grateful for such a wonderful holiday with friends! It was a blast and we cannot wait to do it again next year! :D

 Here has been my week of gratitude posts:

Today I am thankful for officially being on Joe's insurance and submitting it to the doctor so the surgery can be submitted to the insurance company for approval. One step closer. Day 20 in my Month of Gratitude. [SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!!!]


Today I m thankful for silliness. It saves my life everyday to be silly and have silly people in my life. Anytime things have been hard (hello all year) the thing that makes me feel betters SILLY. Day 21 in my Month of Gratitude.

Today I am thankful for family & friends near & far, of this earth & those who have passed. I am thankful for the health of those people still here. I am thankful for the feast Joey has been preparing like mad, I am thankful for the turkey I adopted named Gable who was saved and now lives on a Farm Sanctuary. I am thankful for my pups who woke me with snuggles and kisses. I am thankful to be having surgery soon. I am thankful for a nephew due any day now. I am thankful for so many reasons today. Happy Thanksgiving to you all and know I carry my gratitude of you with me throughout the year! Day 22 in my Month of Gratitude.

Today I am thankful for days in bed, setting up our tree, watching White Christmas, snuggling my pups tight, and a husband who loves me. Pretty great day! Day 23 in my Month of Gratitude.

Today I am grateful for someone who indulges my love of all things Christmas. I bought 6 new holiday movies & he is supporting me about more from Amazon & Disney.com, buying a tree skirt, 3 stockings, more ornaments, bought snowflake placemats & and getting a wreath. Thankful he is patient with me about this obsession... Day 24 in my Month of Gratitude.  



 It's been a pretty great week off of a previously pretty great week (thanks to an amazing shoot with the one and only Michael Madsen and some amazing friends & crew mates). Cannot complain my dear chickens. Hope all is well with you in your worlds. Joe and I are now gearing up for our big birthday week (12/1 I am 28 & 12/5 Joey is 30!)-Disneyland and a big USO themed party. It should be a hoot of a time. I am excited for what this next year is bringing: surgery, healed back, a vow renewal, adventures, and who knows what else! Grateful gal here, really and truly.


 Xs and Os dear chickens!

 

Sunny With A Chance of My Triumphant Return!!!

HOORAY DEAR CHICKENS I AM BACK!!!!!!!!

Okay, so I wasn't really gone anywhere, but I was gone from you all and this blog. Loathe me, feel free, I'm sorry! I let a lot of things take over. Some AMAZING, some not so amazing.

Here is my life story these past 2 months:

-opening night was amazing!!! I had so much fun & was a huge nervous mess.
-2nd & 3rd nights of the show did not go so well for me due to some certain hiccups
-every night after those 2 of the show has been mostly amazing and I am enjoying playing on stage every single chance I get
-I LOVE BARBARA BAIN! I wish I could listen to her stories every single day. I am relishing every chance I get to work with her and am going to sign up to take her acting class. LOVE HER!
-I've submitted a press release to my hometown's local paper so hopefully they print about me and my show!
-I've made postcards to send out to fancy schmancy casting directors and agents so they learn my name and face.
-I am starting Improv 3 next week, 1 step closer to entering the Conservatory at 2nd City and becoming the next Tina Fey-deal with it. It's my dream and I do what I want.
-I am starting to rain with a for real trainer on Sunday to help me look like a major hottie at my sister's wedding in July and my wedding when it happens (most likely Feb. 12, 2014).
-I have been buying so many eco-friendly & conscious items that are vegan on Eco-Style, Ethical Ocean, 100% Pure, & Pure Citizen lately. I am in love with the quality, the ability to donate to amazing causes, and the fact that each item is safe for me & my family!
-My sister has super big and exciting news that is top secret! Can't wait to spill the beans although she and I hurt each others respective feelings when she told me. Her to me first and then me being in defense mode back to her. Why is it with sisters you immediately revert to your kid self and cannot talk as an adult when you're feelings are hurt? You just immediately do the kid thing and hurt their feeling back? It's a mystery I don't think I'll ever solve.
-Joe and I are going to be cleaning out our apartment and are going get rid of a bunch of stuff-garage sale anyone?
-I am going to be making a website for my actor stuff and just might make a new blog site if I can figure out how to do it all.
-I want to buy a Mac so I can use iWeb to design these sites & am looking into how I can afford that.
-I am going to be joining SAG soon-hooray union acting!!! :D
-I have discovered how crazy people can be and how horrible they can be. Admitting you made a mistake rather than throwing an innocent person under the bus to save face is WAY more adult and cool than the latter. The latter, in fact, makes people angry with you & lose any respect they had for you. Also lying is NOT cool. EVER.
-Joe and my heart was made even fuller when we took Colonel Mustard to The Amanda Foundation and let him pick out his new little brother. Zebulon "Zeb" Walton Sedrowski-Timmer is the new addition to our growing family. We love him SO much. He is a 16 week old Jack Russell-Beagle mix who looks way more Jack Russell than beagle, which is cool since Colonel looks more beagle than Jack Russell.
-TCM Film Festival was this weekend and I am SUPER BUMMED I missed it this year but I am already plotting for next year.
-I got a new phone, the iPhone 4S. It's cool though I hate that it is made by children in China who die making them and that Apple uses a crap ton of coal to produce their products. Can't some tech savvy person open a U.S. made electronic company that is eco-conscious? I'd buy from them, no matter the cost. Someone help me out with that!
-As I age I realize how awesome and wise my Pops was when he made us do stuff as a kid like only buy things made in the USA (working and living wages with labor laws versus paying cents a day for child labor) and growing food in a garden in our backyard or going to the Farmer's Market. And my folks joke I'm such a hippie now-HELLO! I got it from you guys! :D
-I am exhausted all the time but I kind of am loving it. Every day.
-I am super grateful for Joe & Colonel & Zeb! They were all napping on the couch yesterday and I started tearing up because I love them and our family so much!
-I am dying for Joe to finish his PhD so we can see what our next exciting adventure is! I am experiencing major wanderlust right now and am dying to go travel and live somewhere new-though I do love L.A.!

So that is about it! How are all of you doing out there in blog land? Did you miss me as much as I missed you?! If no just lie, if yes than be glad that I am back & going to be adding a crap ton of pictures ASAP showing you a lot of things I mentioned above! :D

Sunny With a Chance of Blerg!

Blerg! I have been sucking it up lately friends by not posting. Unfortunately for me life was kicking my butt this round. I've been uber busy lately: stage managing a play, working, applying for certain things, Improv class, interning, helping my sister with her wedding, swimming, thinking about Joe & I getting married, a new group my friend is starting here in LA for actors, dealing with my sister needing ovarian surgery, and still sick to boot! Needless to say it's been a bit of a busy time and I've been thrown a few curve balls like my tire popping on the highway, some finance issues, and very trouble-seeking 2 year old pup! Please bear with me through these, er, growing pains. I am still trying to wrap my head around some things and get my schedule working. Here is some brief stuff to catch up our schedule:

Colonel Mustard Monday:
"I'm still living the good life! I turned 2 in January and mom says I can be "terrible 2" sometimes but I like to think of it as "terrific 2"! Like today, I chewed and chewed and played and slept and had some treats and snuggles and now am back to chewing my dental dino. Can't beat that!"





TCM Tuesday:
To satisfy your need of classic film I give you...


It's showing tonight on TCM at 11:45pm. Here be your quickie synopsis:
Set in July 1912, a traveling salesman, "Professor" Harold Hill (Robert Preston), arrives in River City, Iowa, via train. Intrigued by the challenge of swindling the famously stubborn natives of Iowa as talked about by fellow traveling salesmen. He is a traveling "band instructor". Professor Hill plans to con the citizens of River City into paying him to create a boys' marching band, including instruments, uniforms, and music instruction. Once he has collected the money and the instruments and uniforms have arrived, he will hop the next train out of town leaving them without their money or a band.

With help from his associate Marcellus Washburn (Buddy Hackett), who is now living in River City and is the only one who knows Hill's real name, "Gregory"; Hill incites mass concern among the citizens of River City that their young boys are being seduced into a world of sin and vice by the new pool table in town. Hill convinces them that a boys' marching band is the only way to keep the boys of the town pure and out of trouble, and begins collecting their money.

Hill anticipates the town's librarian and piano instructor Marian (Shirley Jones), will attempt to discredit him, so he sets out to seduce her into silence. Also in opposition to Hill is the town's Mayor Shinn (Paul Ford) & his wife Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn (Hermione Gingold). Meanwhile, Hill attempts to win the heart of Marian, who has an extreme distrust of men and him in particular. His charms have little effect upon her until he wins the admiration of both her mother (Pert Kelton) and her withdrawn and unhappy younger brother Winthrop (Ron Howard). Marian falls in love with Hill, and hides evidence she has that proves he is a fraud.

The band's instruments arrive and Hill tells the boys to learn to play via the "Think System," in which they simply have to think of a tune over and over and will know how to play it without ever touching their instruments. In the meantime, Marian is falling more in love with Harold. Hill's con is nearly complete; all he has to do is collect the rest of the instrument and uniform money, and he can disappear.

He is about to leave town when a disgruntled anvil salesman who had been run out of Brighton, Illinois in a backlash to Hill's having conned the townspeople there comes to River City and exposes Hill and his plans. Chased by an angry mob of River City citizens (and pressed to leave town by Marcellus and Marian) Hill realizes that he is in love with Marian and can't leave. He is captured by the mob and brought before a town meeting to be tarred and feathered. Hill is saved by the boys' band who "play" their own instruments (very poorly). Hill remains in River City and there is a huge parade and fanfare!

Enjoy this delightful musical tonight! :)

Good for the World Wednesdays:
I want to introduce you all to 2 things today. The first being my new favorite go to quick lunch--salad wraps! I know, so simple and everyone knows how to make their own version of one but I am currently obsessed so deal with it. Joe made me blackened tempeh and it's wrapped up with baby greens, scallion, carrot, mushroom, chickpeas, and a hummus salad dressing. We've been snacking on this like whoa! The second thing I want to share is one of my very favorite advocacy groups Farm Sanctuary. They constantly have ways of adopting a farm animal that's been rescued, educational articles, petitions to stand up for animal rights, everything really to help provide an actual sanctuary for farm animals everywhere. I want to adopt everything (I specifically loved their turkeys at "Friendsgiving" and wanted to adopt all of those lil guys) and hope you join me in loving everything they do!

Okay tomorrow I shall try and post about the theatre I am involved with for your Thursday enjoyment! Thanks chickens and see you soon. Promise!

Sunny With a Chance of Friendsgiving!!!

Oh friends! I am so sorry for not posting in quite some time. It has been a month. I have so many pictures from the weddings last month that I want to share with you & loads to catch you up on (some great things & some trials/tribulations). But today I just want to give thanks.

So thank you to all of you who do read this little blog & to those who follow it publicly super thank you! I promise I will get my butt in gear and get back to posting on the regs!! Thank you to all my friends for being friends, to all those friends I have parted ways with (good and bad partings) thank you for making me who I am today and being my friend at the time you were. You all have helped me learn who I am & who I am not. To my family thank you for being bat-shit crazy and so loyal and supportive. Though we don't always get along you are always there for me. Thank you to my boyfriend. I LOVE YOU!!! Thanks for being "home", my safe place, my best friend, my sweetie, and my MoneyPenny! LOVE LOVE LOVE you! Thank you to my puppy Colonel Mustard for all your puppy kisses, snuggles, pounces, prancing, keeping my feet warm, and your soft ears! You're are the best fur baby a rescue mama could ask for & I am so lucky that Kari found you that 14th of August & that we got there one day before they were going to euthanize you! Thank you to all my doctors-my back is literally a huge pain in the ass but I am so thankful to the doctors, my pilates/rehab instructor & friend Dionna, my acupuncturist Oscar, my new Swim instructors at SCAQ, and everyone who is helping keep me healthy!

Basically I am thankful for all the people in my life, for the ability to live each day in a city always showing me new things, the ability to pursue my acting dreams whilst still paying the bills, the fact that I've stayed out of surgery for 6 years, the fact that I have a honey who loves me as fiercely as he did almost 6 years ago (AHHH! February is rapidly approaching), and that tomorrow I get to host our 2nd annual Friendsgiving! I am so excited y'all!

Joe & I have meticulously planned out this menu & here is what we are making for dinner (eat your hearts out):

Appetizers (to be served with homemade bread):
-Sun-dried Tomato Dip
-Savory Tofu Dip

Salads:
-Warm Spinach Salad
-Pressed Salad

Main Dish:
-Lemon-Thyme-Agave Braised Vegan Short Ribs and Seared Tofu Scallops in a Mineola Tangelo-Saffron Sauce!

Sides:
-Kabocha Squash with Creminis & Herbs
-Sweet Potato & Banana Casserole
-Polish Dill Mashed Potatoes
-Garlic Glazed Green Beans
-Kale with Pine Nuts & Currants
-Chestnut Stuffing
-Cranberry Chutney

Desserts:
-Chocolate Pumpkin Tart
-Apple Crisp
-Pumpkin-Cranberry Scones
-Almond-Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Isn't your mouth just watering right now?! Mine is (Colonel's too)...mmmm! Hope you all have wonderful Thanksgivings full of love & traditions. Cannot wait to hear all about them & tell you how ours goes! See you soon chickens! :D

Vegan Mofo Day 20.5!

Fitting in one more recipe here for the last day to make up for my sucky posting this past week. This one is an amazing one though so ENJOY!!

Gołąbki!!!!! (or stuffed cabbage rolls)

RECIPE:
The Cabbage:
2 large heads of green cabbage, cored

Boil a large pot (approx. 1-2 gallons) of salted water. Submerge cored cabbage. Continue to boil until cabbage leaves are pliable. Drain. Cover in cold water 5 minutes. Set aside.

The Stuffing:
1 cup olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled & finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small can tomato paste (6 oz.)
2 tbsp red wine
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp paprika
1.5 cups uncooked rice
12 oz. Yve's Veggie Cuisin Meatless Ground (you could use 1 cup TVP or some tempeh if you prefer, find a flavor and texture you enjoy [whilst saving the beef & pork traditionally used in this recipe])

Cook your rice until ALMOST done. Set aside. In another pan saute onion & carrots over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add garlic, continue for another 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, parsley, wine, mostly cooked rice, meatless ground, & some salt & pepper to taste. Mix for 2-5 minutes. Remove from heat.

The Sauce:
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tbsp olive oil
2 18oz. cans crushed tomatoes
1 cup veggie stock
1.5 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp brown sugar
2 tbsp tofutti sour cream
10 oz. button mushrooms, sliced

Saute garlic in oil over medium high heat for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes & stock. Cook for 10 minutes. Add the vinegar & brown sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add salt & pepper to taste. Remove from heat. Use an emulsion blender to blend until mostly smooth (my mom prefers chunkier, Joe prefers smooth, do whatever makes you happy peeps). Add tofutti sour cream in slowly & stir with spoon. In separate pan saute mushrooms with oil for approx. 10 minutes. Add mushrooms to tomato sauce.

To assemble & cook:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully peel off cabbage leaves (I usually set aside the first 2 leaves because there is always a little dirt left no matter how much I clean them & they're usually ripped up a little or too huge to roll-DO NOT THROW AWAY THOUGH! You'll use them later). Just to one side of vein take a heaping scoop of your filling. Wrap it up burrito style (tuck the non vein end over, then fold the side that the filling is close to over & roll). Place little cabbage-burrito into pyrex baking dish or roasting pan SEAM SIDE DOWN. Keep up this process using the larger leaves of the cabbage first until your filling is all gone (this filled 2: 13"x9" meatloaf sized pyrex dishes for us). Cover the stuffed cabbages with sauce (leave some sauce aside for after they are cooked). Cover with any unused (the biggie leaves we set aside!) cabbage leaves & any smaller unused leaves (they will keep your rolls from burning in the oven). Cover dish with aluminum foil or lid. Place in oven & bake for 1.5 hours. Remove from oven & allow to cool.

To Serve:
Place rolls on plate. Top with some heated left-over tomato sauce & a dollop of tofutti sour cream. Chop some sprigs of parsley & sprinkle on top. Serve with your favorite red wine or some Warka or Żywiec beers from the motherland! Na zdrowie!!




REVIEWS:
Alex: an old family favorite this dish reminds me of winter in Michigan. Great stick to your ribs & keep you warm kind of dish. Rolling these reminds me of good conversations & eating them reminds me of amazing family dinners! Love making & eating these!! DELICIOUS! :D

Joe is half asleep right now as I type this up (it IS 1AM after all) but he still managed to mutter out in his sleep when questioned "It's so good, I love them". So from the mouth of a half asleep non-Polish kid they're truly delicious!

Vegan MoFo Day 20!

Day 19 has us enjoying a quickie recipe we converted from an old stir fry fave of ours.

Beef(less) & Broccoli Stir Fry

RECIPE:
2 cloves garlic
1/2 red onion
12 oz. broccoli florets
3 scallions
2 tbsp. hoison sauce
2 tbsp. mirin
1/4 cup water
red chili flakes
2 tbsp. peanut (or veggie) oil
2 packages Gardein homestyle beefless tips

Mince garlic & thinly slice white parts of scallions & red onions. In wok (or large skillet) preheat 1 tbsp oil on high heat until faint wisps of smoke start to rise. Add garlic & sliced white parts of scallions. Stirring until fragrant (about 10 seconds). Add thinly sliced red onions & Gardein beefless tips. Stir until browned on all sides. Add 1 tbsp mirin & 1 tbsp hoison sauce. Continue to cook for 30 seconds. Reserve this mixture into a large bowl.

In same pan add remaining tbsp oil & bring to heat (about 45 seconds). Add broccoli florets, stirring constantly for about 1 minute. Add water & remaining mirin & allow broccoli to steam until water evaporates (3-5 minutes). Add the beefless mixture back into wok as well as remaining hoison. Thibnly slice remaining green sections of scallions, add to wok with large pinch of red pepper flakes. Serve with steamed rice & enjoy!





REVIEWS:
Joe: Pretty great, quick, & easy meal. Perfect for weeknights!

Alex: I love broccoli so this really hit the spot for me when I crave green veggies. Delicious quick stir fry ready when you are starving and don't want to wait to cook a big fancy meal. Yum! :)

Vegan MoFo Day 19!

Oy, I have been crap at blogging this past week-sorry friends!! Been busy busy busy here. Hope this recipe makes up for it a little though!

This is another delicious Polish family recipe from Alex's house that has been converted. As kids my Pops used to take all of us down to Hamtramck (Detroit) to the Polish Bakery & our favorite restaurant (Polonia Restaurant and order this to start our meals. Now I got the recipe from a Polish manager of mine at a restaurant I worked at (Thanks Jacek!) who had his Mama fax it from Poland to me, he translated it, and then when I went vegan I converted the recipe to what you will see below! It makes my Polish heart (and tummy) so so happy!!!

Zupa ogórkowa or Dill Pickle Soup!

RECIPE [for 1.5 gallons of soup]:
4 leeks,
7 carrots
3 celery
5 potatoes
vegan butter (we use Earth Balance buttery spread)
3/4 bunch fresh dill
1/4 bunch fresh parsley
3 quarts water
4 tbsp Better Than Bouillon's No Chicken bouillon
1 64 oz. dill pickle jar (all the pickles & 1/4 to 1/2 cup brine)
tofutti sour cream

Chop carrots, celery, & leeks. Throw in pot with water. Bring to boil, reduce heat to simmer until veggies are fork tender.

In separate pot, cook finely diced pickles (3/4 of the amount) in Earth Balance. Simmer & cover for 1/2 hour (add water if needed).






Peel & cut potatoes in small cubes (we chopped into about 1/2" cubes). Remove cooked veggies from water & add in potatoes & bouillon. Stir in bouillon to dissolve. Cook potatoes until fork tender. Add in cooked pickles to potatoes & cook together.





In separate bowl, scoop 1/2 a container of Tofutti sour cream. Add a little of "soup" mixture & mix with it to bring temperature up without "curdling". Slowly add sour cream mixture into large pot of "soup".





Add other veggies back into pot. Process until smooth with an immersion blender. Add freshly minced dill & parsley as well as remaining pickles & brine. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook together another 2-5 minutes. Serve & enjoy with friends (like my pal Sarah whom I know from college who visited LA last week)!!



REVIEWS:
Joe: When I first heard about this soup from Alex, I was put off. I am not the biggest fan of pickles! So I wasn't sure how I would feel about a pickle soup. But this soup has a really nice flavor & I really enjoy it!

Alex: I love, Love, LOVE this soup!!! It tastes like childhood and straight up yumminess to me. Amazingly creamy and dilly. How can a Polish gal go wrong with potatoes, pickles, and fresh dill?! The answer is that she can't friends, she can't! I hope you all enjoy this soup as much as I do :D

Obviously this recipe can be made in smaller batches but as most things in good home-made recipes there are no measurements so feel free to add more (potatoes Alex thinks) or less depending on your tastes and group size. Enjoy!

Vegan MoFo Day 18!

Sorry for the few day delay friends!! We were both swamped this weekend: Alex with her 2nd City Internship & sound editing for MacBeth where she is trying her hat at Stage Managing (?!) and Joe with grading math homework for 3 courses! It was a busy and not very restful weekend! But on to the recipe...

For Day 18 we are cooking and eating up some of our favorite blogger The Vegan Dad's recipe for Vegan Gyros! We have made this recipe many times, and we have included our changes/tips. The original idea is from the Vegan Dad, of course. We are so obsessed with this blog & in particular a few of his recipes (like this one)!

RECIPE:
tempeh gyro:
1, 8.5oz block of tempeh
1 onion
1tsp garlic powder
1tbsp marjoram
1tsp ground rosemary
1/2tsp basil
1/2tsp thyme
1/2tsp sage
1/4tsp salt
2tbsp finely chopped parsley
2tbsp soy sauce
freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup flour
oil

vegan tzatziki sauce:
1 container Tofutti Sour Cream
juice from 1 lemon
2 cloves garlic minced
2tbsp canola oil
1tsp salt
freshly ground pepper
2-3 tbsp fresh dill (Joe: we always use fresh dill, since Alex being Polish has a dill obsession & it's always in our fridge. Alex: Um, you're welcome.)
pinch cayenne
1 cup peeled grated cucumber (I think a whole, normal sized cucumber)
1/2 cup peeled and diced cucumber (half a cucumber)
2tbsp chopped fresh parsley


Make the tzatzki sauce first. Grate the cumcumber into small pieces and place in a piece of cheese cloth, or a clean kitchen towel (I have tried paper towels, but it does not work very well). Add salt to the cucumbers an let sit over a colander for at least an hour.
This is to remove most of the water in the cucumbers. Combine the rest of the ingredients, EXCEPT the diced cucumber, in a bowl and mix well. After the hour, squeeze the grated cucumbers to remove as much water as possible. (Alex: I like to use the juice to make Cucumber Cocktails!). Add both types of prepared cucumber. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour. The sauce should taste tangy, refreshing and with a distinct flavor of dill. I also added some Vegenaise (like 2 tbsp) to help with the sauce some.

In a food processor (or a box grater), grate the onion and tempeh.

Add spices, including parsley, and soy sauce and mix well with your hands. Add flour and knead together for a minute. Wrap into a log using plastic wrap, about 2 inches in diameter.
Refrigerate for at least 45 minutes, or until ready to use. This will help keep the "meat" together when you cook it.

Unwrap the "meat", slice into 10-12 pieces and shape and flatten to resemble gyro meat. The slices should be no more that 1/4" thick and 2 by 5 inch rectangular shapes.

Fry the slices in batches (We can usually fit 4 a time with a 10" skillet) in a skillet with a small layer of oil heated over medium-high heat. Fry for 2 minutes per side, flipping once or until golden brown on both sides.

Serve with tzatziki, red onions, lettuce and tomatoes in a warm piece of pita (or better yet, TJ's Middle Eastern Flatbread!)!



REVIEW:

Joe: Best thing since sliced bread! I actually used the Vital Wheat Gluten flour as the original recipe calls for this time, and I didn't like it as much! I found the regular (AP) flour helped things stay together better.

Alex: I think this recipe is fantastic. I used to work in a Greek fast food joint in college and would eat gyros until I would explode and after going vegan really found myself craving that taste of spices & tzatziki so when I stumbled upon this recipe I did a jig of joy! This flavor combo just hits the spot for me and curbs my college tummy cravings! :D