It's almost over..

2010 is nearing the end. I can't believe how fast this year went. We have also had our first real snow of the year. Its beautiful when it's coming down and so quiet outside with the white blanket across the ground. Then the plows start moving stuff and people start digging then it's ugly and dirty. sigh.
Anyway, Hope everyone had a great winter holiday...whatever one or ones you may celebrate. I wish you all a healthy and happy New Year...may 2011 bring you all you need to live a full, productive life. 

Chickpea Nuggets (adapted from Veganomicon)

(pics to come)

I made these for me on shabbos because I made my DH buffalo wings...these were so awesome. They were inspired by this recipe. But since I didn't have vital wheat gluten, I went looking for substitutes and was referred to this recipe. So I came up with the following recipe...which I liked very much.

Ingredients
Nuggets
1 can chickpeas (rinsed and peeled)
1 med all purpose potato (this starchier the better)
2 cloves of garlic (pressed or finely minced)
1/4 C water
1 tsp "chicken" consomme/bouillon
bread crumbs (enough to make the nuggets mold-able)
drizzle of olive oil
generous sprinkles of the following spices/herbs
thyme
sage
paprika
garlic salt
pepper
poultry seasoning
and any other spices you would like

Breading
1/2 C flour
1/2 C corn meal
1-2 tsp each
garlic salt
pepper
paprika
(add any other seasonings you like)

1/2 C milk ( I used rice milk)

Boil potato whole in skin till soft, drain and cool.
Remove chickpea skins.

Once potato is cooled remove skin and cut into smaller pieces. Put in food processor and blend till smooth. ( I did this with a little rice milk)Add chick peas and garlic and blend until a ball forms (this is a good consistency because it is starchy enough to form into nuggets)
Add olive oil, bouillon, and spices...mix well. Add water bit by bit until moist (you don't want it liquidy) then add bread crumbs. It should have a cookie dough consistency.

In a separate mixing bowl combine breading ingredients EXCEPT milk.
Put milk in another bowl.
Form bean mixture into small nuggets. Dip into milk then into breading. Coat completely.
Heat a frying pan with a some oil and lightly fry each side of the nugget until golden brown.

Enjoy with fries and various dips or sauces. Yum!

Summer's almost over :(

As the Summer is coming to an end and the new school year is approaching...I am starting to get an ache...I MISS homeschooling my daughter. Even as frustrating as it had become I MISS it. I plan to start working with my 3 yr old this year and that will be wonderful but I am full of guilt that I send my 11 yr old away every morning. She doesn't like school and I am not so happy with her school experiences either. :( I am in a bind though due to circumstances that (I think) require her to be in school right now. Also as much as she says she misses homeschooling, I think she would miss being around her few friends daily.
Ugh...parental guilt never ends...no matter what decisions we make we always worry that they are the wrong ones. I pray that my children grow up to be healthy, wonderful adults. I also hope that they understand all of the decisions I have made were what I thought to be in their best interest.

Been awhile

Well it's been awhile since I posted. I know you are all out there holding your breath...lol. Anyway, we have been sooooooo busy trying to finish moving which we have been doing since Sept. 09. And we are BH nearly done. One more day of cleaning and a few more boxes and we should finally be done. I can't wait. It's such a pain to move.

7 years!!!

Happy Anniversary to my dear husband and me!!!
And in honor of that i'm gonna give it to ya old school!! Enjoy :)

I hate when I forget things...

The other day I was thinking about a post I wanted to make here. But today I am sitting down to write it and I forgot all of it...grrrr.
It was flowing from my mind in such a poetic manner. It was so perfect. But now its lost in the chasm of my brain like so many other things.
I tend to wax poetic when I am alone talking to myself preparing to say things out loud but then when the time comes it all hides from my mouth. Or in this case my fingers. Why does it not return? Why can't I remember what it was I wanted to say?
So since I don't have anything eloquent to write I will leave you with this beautiful poem from someone else's mind....lol.

Here is my favorite poem....

The Road Not Taken
By Robert Frost

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;           Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,           And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.           I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Tonight's Dinner...Chik'n Pesto Pasta

I made a variation of this recipe ... .http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pesto-Pasta-with-Chicken/Detail.aspx


I used the Lightlife Chik'n Strips in place of the Chicken in the recipe and I used Meditalia Basil Pesto instead of homemade. I also used dry sundried tomatoes instead of packed in oil.

I sauteed garlic in olive oil till nice and brown then added the Chik'n and sundried tomatoes. I then added about 1/2-1 C of water from the pasta and let it deglaze the plan and to soften the tomatoes.
Once the water was cooked down I added half the jar of the pesto. I let it heat up for a minute and then poured it all over the pasta and mixed well.


Here are some not so great pics. Sorry. Dinner was ready so fast and the natives were hungry.

Mattisyahu-One Day

So I have heard of Mattisyahu before but I had never really listened to any of his music. I came across this song and it has one of the most beautiful messages. I want to share it with you to pass along a little hope and a little beauty. Share this with your friends, family, enemies, anyone who you think could use a peaceful message.



here are the lyrics too

Sometimes I lay
Under the moon
And thank G-d I'm breathin'
Then I pray
Don't take me soon
'Cause I am here for a reason

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around
Because

All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There'll be no more wars
And our children will play

One day x6

It's not about
Win or lose
'Cause we all lose
When they feed on
The souls of the innocent
Blood drenched pavement

Keep on moving though the waters stay ragin'
In this maze you can lose your way (your way)
Might drive you crazy
But don't let it faze you no way (no way)

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around
Because

All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There'll be no more wars
And our children will play

One day x6

One day this all will change
Treat people the same
Stop with the violence
Down with the hate
One day we'll all be free
And proud to be
Under the same sun
Singing songs of freedom like...

One day x2

All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There'll be no more wars
And our children will play

One day x6

Quick random update

I haven't been online much this week. It was Shavuos. I had tons of fun. I got to hang out with an awesome lady for a few hours just chatting and I really felt like she "got" me. It was great to feel connected to another spiritual being again. For some reason today...I feel like I am reconnected to HaShem. It has been awhile and I was pretty much just doing the daily basics but today I feel like I need to do so much more. I will be learning this Shabbos for sure.
Also this past Tuesday was my 1 month veggiversary!!! Yay me! I feel so much healthier and energetic, even though I can't seem to sleep anymore. I just wish it wasn't either raining or 137 degrees outside. OK that's a bit of an exaggeration but you get my point. Being veg also makes me feel like I am respecting HaShem's creations. I know we are ALLOWED to eat animals but I don't see why we do if we can survive without them.
But I digress....
I just finished the dishes and wanted to get online for a few before my oldest daughter comes home from school. I am off to clean the living room now in honor of the Shabbos Queen.
I leave you with a beautiful hymn in Her honor...

Hymn for the Sabbath Eve

(Friday Sundown)

by Rabbi Isaac Luria, the Ari Zaal

I sing in hymns
to enter the gates
of the Field
of holy apples. A new table
we prepare for Her,
a lovely candelabrum
sheds its light upon us.
Between right and left
the Bride approaches,
in holy jewels
and festive garments.
Her Husband embraces Her
in Her foundation,
giving Her pleasure,
squeezing out his strength.
Torment and trouble
are ended.
Now there are joyous faces
and spirits and souls.
He gives Her great joy
in twofold measure.
Light shines upon Her
and streams of blessing.
Bridesmen go forth
and prepare the Bride's adornments,
food of various kinds
all manner of fish.
To beget souls
and new spirits
on the thirty-two paths
and three branches.
She has seventy crowns
and the supernal King,
that all may be crowned
in the Holy of Holies.
All the worlds are engraved
and concealed within Her,
but all shine forth
from the "Ancient of Days."
May it be His will
that He dwell among His people,
who take joy for His sake
with sweets and honey.
In the south I set
the hidden candelabrum,
I make room in the north
for the table with the loaves.
With wine in beakers
and boughs of myrtle
to fortify the Betrothed,
to strengthen the weak.
We plait them wreaths
of precious words
for the crowning of the seventy
in fifty gates.
Let the Shekhinah be adorned
by six Sabbath loaves
connected on every side
with the Heavenly Sanctuary.
Weakened and cast out
the impure powers,
the menacing demons
are now in fetters.

Baruch Hashem it's almost Shabbos!!! Enjoy your weekend all!!

~pant pant~

My daughter had a mother daughter luncheon at her school today. I didn't have ride because my hubs had to use the car to go out of town. So....I walked 2.1 miles to her school...and the .1 was straight uphill at the end of the walk. OMGosh that was exhausting. Stupid me wore peach so my face matched my shirt and tichel by the end....lol. Maybe I should start walking 2 miles a day probably would help my big behind get into shape.

Food Review: Luck Chen Noodle Bowls

Tonight I made home made vegan wontons with home made sweet and sour sauce. I also ate a bowl of Luck Chen soy ginger noodles. They were soooooo good. The noodles were already soft and the flavor in the sauce was light and fantastic. I highly recommend these as a quick meal or snack. They are way tastier than ramen and even easier to prepare. Kosher and totally vegan :)

~YAWN~

Ugh...sometimes, I like to torture myself. I like to stay up really really late, till like almost sunrise. Which really would be fine if I didn't have kids who got up to do things in the morning. So my 3 yr old woke up screaming at 5AM (which seems to be a recent ritual) and wanted a drink. Then I had to get my 11 yr old up at 9AM to go to play practice. I was also supposed to be going out with family today but BH they decided they would rather get take out and hang out at my house. So now it's 5PM and I am ready for bed. Can anyone tell me why I do this? It's NOT fun and I am beat. ~yawn~

New Hope PA

Spent the day there with my Mom and my daughters. It was a perfectly beautiful day outside and we had a wonderful time. I am so exhausted from the whole day out in the sun. Back to the old routine tomorrow. Bleh!

Tonight's Dinner...Bean Wellington

Since giving up meat I have been trying to be creative for my family's sake. And to insure that I won't give up because I am bored with food. I am a total foodie!! I love cooking and trying new and interesting things. I haven't always been so open to food but I have recently learned to LOVE food. Although to look at my waistline you would have never known that I am a former food hater....lol.
So here is what we had tonight....oh and btw my 11 yr old is also a food hater...she is the pickiest human being on the face of the earth...BUT...she is learning to love food also. She ate three slices of this tonight. I was stunned. My 3 yr old, however, was not interested at all. She ate about 4 forkfuls of succotash and ran off. Oh well, I guess it's her age. Now...the recipe....


Bean Wellington

Ingredients
1 sheet of thawed puffed pastry or pie crust (homemade or store bought)

1/2 C dry lentils
1 tbsp steak sauce
1 tbsp Worcestershire(watch out for those anchovies) sauce
1 bay leaf
1 tsp thyme
2 cloves of pressed or minced garlic
2 tbsp tomato paste or puree
2-3 tsp "beef" bouillon
1-2 tsp "chicken" bouillon
salt & pepper to taste
water

2 boiled potatoes
3-4 tbsp rice, soy, almond, or dairy milk
1/2 C carrots
1/2-1 Onion
1/4 C - 1/2 C ground flavored crackers or flour or breadcrumbs

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Cook lentils in water with steak sauce, worchestershire sauce, garlic, tomato puree, bouillon, garlic, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper . Start with 1 C of water stirring often, adding water 1/2 c at a time till lentils are soft and water is cooked away. This will probably take about 2 1/2 C water total and 30 +/- mins. When cooked to soft consistency set aside to cool, remove bay leaf.

In a food processor combine boiled potatoes (no skins) and milk. Process till smooth. Set aside in mixing bowl. Process carrots and onion till fine. Add to mixing bowl. Add ground crackers/flour/breadcrumbs. Mix together well.

Put lentils in the food processor and blend till coarse. Add to mixing bowl of other ingredients. Mix well.

Oil a piece of parchment paper or foil. Lay out mixture onto oiled paper/foil and form into loaf. Wrap tightly. Cook for 1 1/2 hrs. till firm.

When finished cooking allow to cool enough to handle it. While it cools roll out pastry or crust on floured surface. It should be large enough to fit loaf. Lay loaf in the center of the pastry and wrap sides in. Lay on cookie sheet seam side down. Brush top lightly with olive oil. Cook till golden brown about 20-25 mins.
Enjoy with gravy or ketchup.

Here are the pics of our dinner.

The Bean Wellington right out of the oven.

Here it is cut open

My 3 yr old's plate

My plate

Mother's Day fun

Mother's Day was tons of fun. We went to the Museum of Natural Sciences to see the dinosaurs. Which my 3 yr old dd finds very exciting. We had a wonderful time. Afterward we went to a veg restaurant called Mama's Vegetarian in Center City Philly. It was very good. It's nice to have a fast food type place that has yummy middle eastern food. They make their pitas fresh daily and they were THE best pita's I had ever tasted. Unfortunately, they don't have a kid friendly menu so my girls ate french fries for dinner...lol.
It was a great mother's day. And probably the 1st one i didn't spend with my mother. Because of my older daughter having a Sunday morning obligation we have postponed OUR mother's day outing till Thursday. We are going to New Hope/Peddler's Village. I love it there and if the weather is nice, it will be a fun day.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

To all of the lovely mothers out there who are the true blessings in this world, I'd like to send you very happy mother's day wishes.  I hope that your children bring you much nachas (blessings, pride).

Some people are FARKing jerks!!!

My daughter has been having issues with this one girl at school. The girl used to be her friend but for some reason they stopped being friends a few months ago. My daughter was just as happy to go on with life without this girl in it. But apparently this girl wasn't happy with that decision. So she has been causing some drama with her. So...we have basically been telling our daughter to go to the principal with any problems at school and if there are things that aren't such a big deal we have been telling daughter to brush it off. Well, this girl has been causing trouble and going home and telling her unbalanced mother lies about my daughter. She tells her mother that my daughter is doing the things to her, that she has actually been doing. So yesterday, this mother calls us and starts spouting off nonsense about how she is going to physically INJURE my daughter and cause her problems in school. A grown woman threatening a child to her father!!!! Can you believe it???? I am so upset about this. And my husband is livid. We did call the principal to have someone else intervene because this has gotten out of hand. The bigger problem is that this woman is sort of in charge of certain things AT the school and this will make for uncomfortable things in the future. I am just in disbelief that people can behave in such a horrible manner. I don't deal with these issues, my husband does because I turn into mama grizzly bear and get out of control. I need to protect my babies. But I was hoping she would show up at my home yesterday just so I could open up my own can of CRAZY!!!
~sigh~ What's wrong with people?? These are supposed to be religious people. They are acting like animals. Unbelievable!!!!

Vegetarian....

Well...I have been afraid to say it out loud because I don't want to jinx myself. But I haven't eaten meat since Monday April 19 2010. We do still have it in our home as my husband is completely against NOT eating meat. But he is great about only eating it for two meals per week. It has been Fab U Lous for his cholesterol too. I do still eat dairy and things that contain eggs but something IS better than nothing, right? So I have some great new recipes that I have come up with that I will be posting soon. I want to make them again so I can add pics. 

Anyway....do you think it's safe to call myself a...~gulp~...vegetarian??

Food/Product Review : Coffee!!!!

My husband had bought me the Keurig Special Edition Home Brewing System for Chanukah. I love it and have been using the individual Green Mountain coffee K-cups. I highly recommend this for anyone who only likes one or two cups of coffee in the morning and doesn't want the hassle of making a pot of coffee. And for my birthday he bought me the reusable filter. Which makes me very happy because I was feeling guilty throwing away all those little cups everyday. :( So, yesterday I went shopping at Whole Foods and bought some coffee beans. The brand is called The Coffee Scoop and it's a local (Bucks County, PA) specialty coffee company. They are PA Certified Organic and Fair Trade licensed. I bought the Breakfast Blend (Medium Roast). I must say this is THE best coffee I have ever had. If you live in PA get to a store and find this and if you don't like in PA get on their website and order. The price is reasonable too. I paid $10 for 12oz of whole bean goodness.

Here are some pics....

The Coffee Maker...

The Beans...

The cup of roasted, swirly goodness... (ignore the "floaties" I didn't stir it before the pic because I like the swirliness of it)

Food Review: Tofu Hot Dogs

I bought the LightLife Smart Dogs because I love the fake Bacon. But the hot dogs are sort of Icky! I made them on the grill thinking, all food taste better grilled...lol. I was wrong. I also bought Tofurkey Beer Brats for the Hubs and he only ate half of one, so they were pretty gross too. The outside of both were very rubbery and the inside of the hot dogs were pretty much deflated mush. They also had the typical soy aftertaste, which I can't appreciate.
Anyone have veg wienie suggestions? LOL

The Economy Sucks!

My husband has been looking for a job for months. He's a Oxford graduate for goodness' sake. No one wants to pay him what he's worth and so he doesn't get hired. So in the mean time we are BROKE. So I need to find a way to grocery shop for cheaper and still be able to eat decent food. We also have limitations. We keep kosher and kosher food is expensive. So my mission is to find a way to keep kosher on a tight budget. I will let you know what I come up with. Right now I am scouring the internet for cheap meal ideas...then I need to find a way to make them kosher without increasing the cost by a million $$.

Ugh!! Why are people so nosy!!??

OK so my oldest daughter has some problems with connecting to peers. She has been through a lot in her young life and some things she just doesn't GET. Why do other people feel the need to be involved? As if I haven't tried for years to get her through these issue.
~Thanks for calling and pointing out that I am a bad parent. And btw your children are PERFECT!! Esp the snotty, bratty spoiled one that squeals and throws tantrums when she doesn't get her way...and the little one who bit my 2 yr old repeatedly every time we have been to your house. Ahhh!!! If there is a problem at school, the SCHOOL should be addressing this issue with me, NOT YOU. You said that the principal has talked to my daughter about it but my daughter says she has never. Now, I want to believe you, you are after all an adult. My daughter, I try to believe and I want to trust. Why would either of you lie to me? I guess the only way to find out is to call the principal myself and find out. You say that lots of kids and teachers have come to you regarding her "issues" but why the *^*$ wouldn't they come to ME??? Even if you are friendly with us and like my daughter...I AM HER PARENT. Not YOU and you shouldn't even be INVOLVED!!!!!
BACK OFF!!!! You can't "fix" my family. Stop trying!! You have only known us since Sept. Have some respect.

New Life

Ok so...I am in the process of moving towards Orthodox Judaism. I have been learning about this for 17 months with a mentor. She is great and it really being helpful to me.