Saturday, January 31, 2009

Asian Stuffed Cabbage

Last week Napa Cabbage was on sale
for $1.00/pound....

I saw Martha Stewart make Asian Stuffed Cabbage
on The Today Show and thought it
would be a good way to use the cabbage
and some leftover rice.

I used a 14 ounce package of Gimme Lean and
reconstituted Shitake Mushrooms...

Combined in a large bowl with the Garlic, Ginger,
Rice, Scallions, Crushed Red Pepper, Soy Sauce
and Sesame Oil.

Then I stuffed the cabbage leaves and baked
for a half hour.

I heated up some of these Spring Rolls.

The Stuffed Cabbage was excellent! (The Spring
Rolls not so much). Thanks again, Martha!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Diner Deluxe, Herndon

I haven't gone here in over ten years, but I
thought I'd live dangerously today.
Under the Pickle, Tomato and Lettuce is a
Gardenburger w/slivered Red Onions on
Pita. It was pretty impressive, but it should be
for $9.25. Now I know why the Amphora
restaurants have stayed in business for so
long. I will definitely add this place to my lunch
rotation.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Esme's Sauce


This time I used Rice Vinegar, Miso, Mustard,
Soy Sauce, Tahini...

and Olive Oil to serve on shell pasta...

After boiling and draining the pasta, I mixed
the sauce ingrediants in the hot pot.
I tossed the pasta and sauce with some scallions.
It's a really yummy way to make pasta.
Here's a cute dog I saw waiting for its owner
in the parking lot of Big Lots this past weekend.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

L'Auberge Chez Francois, Great Falls


Lunch today was at L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls.

The restaurant is Alsatian French and very
quaint and charming.
There were two kinds of bread to start...
The 'Others' (not the ones on Lost, the non-vegans)
got an amuse bouche of quiche. I got this little
fruit assortment.
For an appetizer, I was given steamed
asparagus.
Everyone got a salad, mine was sans croutons
and dressing -- but I had oil & vinegar.
The palate cleanser was grapefruit sorbet.
My entree... amongst the items was a tomato
stuffed with wild rice and what was believed to
be candied chestnuts.
Dessert was a massive portion of sorbet.
Extremely delicious. All this was $61. A
lovely lunch.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Fresh Gourmet Croutons

I know it's easy enough to make croutons, but
I am too lazy to do that, so I was really happy
to finally find some made without dairy products.
Here they are on my salad today along with
some Goddess dressing and Avocado. Better
tasting than anything I could make myself.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Vegan Cupcakes at Tysons Corner?????

I was just wandering around the mall today
and went by this little place. I looked at the sweets
in the case and thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be
wonderful if they had vegan cupcakes?"
AND THERE THEY WERE!!!! I was ecstatic.
I've been shopping at this mall my whole
life. Finding anything labeled 'vegan' in the
mall gives me so much hope.
The girl who worked there was as sweet as
the cupcakes. She noticed me taking pics and
took out the tray of vegan cupcakes for me to
get a better shot.
I had half a vanilla cupcake tonight with
some 'Soy Creamy' Cherry Chocolate Chip.
The icing on the cupcake was like whipped
cream with sugar in it. The cake had the
texture of cornbread. Not what I was
expecting, but delicious. I will definitely
stock up on these next time I go by.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Back to Whole Foods


After yesterday's mayonaisse debacle, I went
nuts at Whole Foods today and couldn't resist
anything labeled 'vegan'. I wound up feasting on
Curried Pumpkin Soup, an Olive Roll, Lemon
Roasted Tempeh, Black-Eyed Pea Salad and
Tabouleh. All so clean-tasting and delectable.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Knossos Cafe, Berryville

Today I got carry-out from Knossos Cafe.

When ordering the Veggie Sandwich on Pita,
I said to leave off the cheese and specifically
said 'I don't eat dairy products' to really drive
home the point of leaving off the cheese, lest
I might have lactose intolerance or other issue.
I was so disappointed to later unwrap my sandwich
and see it was drenched in mayonaisse. (I'm
pretty sure it wasn't Veganaisse). The menu
didn't say there was mayo on the sandwich,
and it's not something I associate with Greek
cuisine.
At least my side order of Hummus & Pita was
pretty sizeable and more than made up for the
sandwich loss.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant, Chantilly

Lunch today was from Lotus Vegetarian.

I got one of the the lunch specials: Sauteed Spinach
Noodles with Tofu skin, veggie-ham, shitake mushrooms,
organic carrots, bean sprouts, napa and celery.
$7.95 includes a Spring Roll (or soup or salad).
It was all super delicious. The best thing I've ever
ordered from Lotus. I also got a bowl of Hot and
Sour Soup, which I just brought home to Mr. SV
because the Noodle dish was much larger than I'd
anticipated. Can't wait to get it again.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Using Up Leftover Rutabaga

I had to use up about a pound of Rutabaga,
so I found this recipe for Clapshot.

Just one pound each of peeled Rutabaga, Potatoes
and Carrots.
Boiled good and long....
...mashed w/three tablespoons Earth Balance
and salt & pepper.
I spread it into an 8x8 casserole dish for
reheating but it's not necessary.
Served with some Cornmeal Crusted Tofu and
a drizzle of Heinz 57. It was pretty good. I
might make it again.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Il Fornaio Restaurant, Reston


Lunch today was at Il Fornaio Restaurant in
Reston Town Centre.

It's a beautiful restaurant inside.

The juices are fresh squeezed and the bread -
Wow! Crusty on the outside, soft on the inside.
The most delicious bread I can remember
ever having. But then...

Unfortunately, the Vegan Minestrone was
pretty dull. I've had better at Olive Garden.

My salad of chopped Romaine, Radicchio, Tomato,
Cucumber, Cannelini Beans and Avocado tossed
with Balsamic Vinaigrette wasn't half as good
as the salad I got yesterday from Baja Fresh,
yet it cost twice as much. The Romaine was
surprisingly yellow and bitter.

Mr. SV's Capellini Al Pomodoro, however, was
delightful. Light w/just a touch of olive oil.
Il Fornaio -- go for the service, atmosphere
and bread.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Baja Fresh


Not very unusual, but surprisingly 'fresh': Lunch
today was a Tostada Salad from Baja Fresh.
Romaine Lettuce topped with Chopped Tomatoes,
Black Beans and Guacamole. Really good value
for $5.50.

I didn't know if the salad would be filling enough
so I ordered the side of Rice & Beans for $1.75.
There was plenty of both. I took the Rice &
Beans home for Mr. SV.

One Pan Cake

I only make the simplest of recipes, so Rural
Vegan's One Pan Cake really appealed to me.
These are all the dry ingrediants..
Topped with the wet...
Stirred up and then I tossed in some FoodLion
Butterscotch chips.
Afterbaking...Apparently all the butterscotch
chips sunk to the bottom of the pan and everything
was completely stuck.
The cake pieces were great with a scoop of Soy
Delicious Dulce De Leche. Next time, I will
make this cake in a separate bowl and bake
it in a greased pan.