blogworthy

~ Any fool can have a trophy wife.  It takes a real man to have a trophy marriage. ~

-Diane Sollee

 
Last Friday, Carnivore promised me a home cooked meal that would be "blogworthy."  He fulfilled his promise... it was wonderful!  By creating the same base in the roasted red pepper sauce, and by using the correct pasta, the changes only came with cream and proteins. Yummy!!! The recipes are below, as well as a shot of the vegan version.

Ingredients:

Pasta of choice
2 large red bell peppers or 24 oz. jar roasted red peppers
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup fresh basil
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cups half-and-half or 2 cups silken tofu
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese or Follow Your Heart mozzarella
4 tablespoons butter or Earth Balance vegan butter
salt and pepper to taste
Optional: small chili pepper or other spicy pepper of choice (adds a great kick!)
Protein of choice


Directions:

If you want to roast your own peppers: Preheat broiler. Lightly coat the red peppers with olive oil. Grill peppers under the broiler until the skin is blackened, and the flesh has softened slightly. Place peppers in a paper bag or resealable plastic bag to cool for approximately 45 minutes. Remove the seeds and skin from the peppers (the skin should come off the peppers easily now). Cut peppers into small pieces.

Grill protein of choice to desired temperature. Tofu can be grilled or baked. Grilled portabello mushrooms are wonderful in the dish, too.

In a skillet, cook and stir the garlic, basil, and red peppers (and spicy pepper) in 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Cook for 10 minutes, so that the flavors mix.

Place mixture in blender (careful it is hot), and puree to desired consistency. Return carnivore puree to skillet, and reheat to a boil.  (Vegan recipe remains in blender in order to add tofu, puree)

**At this point, you'll need to split the sauce in half and finish the remainder according to vegan or carnivore--therefore, cut the ingredients in half to complete the next steps**

Stir in the half-and-half and the Romano cheese; cook and stir until the cheese melts. Add the butter, and stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes. Serve over pasta.

sick computer, sick carnivore, sick puppy

It has been a long two weeks, due to several challenges on the home front! But we're back!!!

New post coming....

Have you met my husband?

~Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then. ~

-Katherine Hepburn

Sunday Night Dinner--a tradition carnivore and I have started in our home.  We rotate cooking week to week, and the meal remains a mystery to the other until it is served.  We love this little highlight at the painful end of a weekend/beginning of a new work week.  The first time carnivore cooked, I sat in the other room perseverating about chicken hands touching my foods, shared spoons, shared knives, shared counters. Eek!  It wasn't until I was finished eating the meal that I saw the kitchen-- everything was exactly as I had hoped--nothing shared, nothing touching, and lots and lots of dirty dishes--perfect!  He can take a hint! (otherwise known as color coded cutting boards, separate sponges, and lots of verbal reminders!)

Well, it's my week... and I'm trying to decide what to make! I love new recipes.  I also love checking out blogs, like my own, to gain ideas and inspiration.  So, I ventured upon a website promising yummy animal-free foods to make for my family. The headline was "Spiced Rice and Lentil Squares."  Enough said.  Have you met my husband?

I am all about introducing carnivore to new foods, however that dish will get me nowhere (except possibly an eye roll and reminder of who I voted for, since apparently there is a correlation between "hippie vegans" and democrats in his thought process?!?).  So, the quest continues... 

Flavor is key.  If something tastes good, you'll keep eating it.  That's nothing new.  However, candy bars taste really good.  So do potato chips.  In order to eat healthy, and enjoy it, there has to be flavor.  A good cookbook to check out is Deceptively Delicious.  I'm not on here to plug anyone (but myself, ha!) however this cookbook does a good job sneaking some veggies into dishes like mac and cheese, brownies, etc... Sneaky, Sneaky... The book may be geared towards children, but, again... Have you met my husband?

Here is a new recipe to try... I took this carnivore version from Food Network, put a few of my own touches on it, and created a veg-carn happy plate. The chicken is not deep-fried, as it typically is in Chicken Parm. Rather, it is covered with flavorful herbs and baked. Carnivore is in love with this dish. Flavor is key.

Chicken Parmesan

Vegan Version: Use Italian Herb Tofu, cut lengthwise, and prepare in separate skillet, using directions below.  Brush your tofu first, so you don't have to dirty two brushes. Use Follow Your Heart mozzarella and Earth Balance butter (or a tiny bit of EVOO). Prepare pasta for both of you that is egg-free.

Ingredients

*3 tablespoons olive oil
*1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
*1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
*1 teaspoon chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
*Salt and freshly ground black pepper
*Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast (3-4 average sized)
*1 1/2 cups Marinara Sauce (my favorite is Emeril’s Roasted Garlic)
*At least 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
*16 teaspoons grated Parmesan
*2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
*Spaghetti or pasta of choice


Directions

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Bring pot of water to a boil for pasta.

Stir the oil and herbs in a small bowl to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Brush both sides of the chicken with the herb oil. Heat a heavy large oven-proof skillet over high heat. Add the chicken and cook just until brown, and cooked throughout, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove the skillet from the heat.

Spoon the marinara sauce over and around the chicken. Sprinkle 3-4 tablespoon (or more, depending on preference) of mozzarella over each breast, then sprinkle 2 teaspoons of Parmesan over each. Sprinkle the butter pieces atop the chicken.

Drop the spaghetti into the boiling water.

Bake the chicken until the cheese melts and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Serve over pasta.

it's the most wonderful time of the year!

~The wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings.  Let food be your medicine.~

- Hippocrates

It's Pomegranate Season! My favorite time of year, and my favorite fruit. Why mention this on The Vegan and The Carnivore? Because, as I will explain, pomegranates do wonders to the human body. Whether your diet consists of Big Macs and Whoppers or entirely raw, the pomegranate tastes good (crunchy like a seed, sweet like a fruit), and can help push out all that gunk in your arteries. Not that I'd consider super sizing it gunk. :)

Pomegranates are considered a "super food."  They contain powerful minerals (calcium, potassium, and iron), plus compounds known as phytonutrients, which are proven to help the body protect against heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. The powerful antioxidants in the fruit also help prevent aging and can neutralize almost twice as many free radicals as red wine and seven times as many as green tea. As a further benefit, some researchers suggest that the crunchy seeds help flush fats from the digestive tract. Adding pomegranate juice to a persons diet has been proven to improve blood flow in people with coronary heart disease, patients with atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) demonstrated a reduction in arterial plaque growth, and studies by The American Association for Cancer Research found hopeful results for prostate health. Amazing!

Below you will find my method of opening a pomegranate, and a fun fall recipe to try out!


Opening a pomegranate:  Score (lightly cut the outside, do not cut through) fresh pomegranate and place in a bowl of water. This will allow any free juice to escape into the water, withot dying your hands, clothes, or carpet! Break open the pomegranate under water to free the arils (seed sacs). The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top. Continue freeing the arils underwater until all are released. Eat the arils, discard the membrane. Enjoy!

Pomegranate Oatmeal Cookies

(Thanks, Squidoo!)

Ingredients:


* Juice from 1 large pomegranate or 1/4 cup 100% Pomegranate Juice
* 1 cup arils from 1 large pomegranate
* 2 1/2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened (vegans, use Earth Balance or similar)
* 1 cup granulated sugar (vegans, do not use cane sugar with bone char--look for beet sugar)
* 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar (vegans, same story as above)
* 1 large egg (vegans, use ener-g egg replacer)
* 3/4 cup chopped dried apricots, cranberries, cherries or apples
* 1/2 cup raisins



Directions:

1. Open pomegranate. Reserve 1 cup of the arils from fruit and set aside. (Refrigerate or freeze remaining arils for another use.)
2. Prepare fresh pomegranate juice.* (see directions below, or buy Pom 100% Juice)
3. Preheat oven to 375F. In a bowl combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl beat together butter and sugars until smooth. Beat in the pomegranate juice and egg. Stir in the flour mixture, reserved arils, apricots and raisins.
4. Drop mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto lightly greased baking sheets.
5. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes until edges are golden brown; do not overbake.
6. Transfer cookies to wire rack with spatula; cool. Store in a tightly covered container or freeze for up to several months.



*For 1 cup of juice, cut 2-3 large pomegranates in half and juice them with a citrus reamer or juicer. Pour mixture through a cheesecloth-lined strainer or sieve. Set the juice aside.

Pet a Cow

~You ask people why they have deer heads on the wall. They always say, 'Because it's such a beautiful animal.' There you go. I think my mother's attractive, but I have photographs of her.~

-Ellen DeGeneres

The other day a co-worker asked me, "How do you stay motivated enough to be vegan? I feel like I should go pet a cow or something, so then maybe I'd feel bad eating it. Did you pet a cow?" No, no I did not pet a cow. However, that provided a good laugh.  Instead, I made an informed decision to put less junk in my body, and from there, the motivation to remain healthy has been reason enough to continue.  If you're wondering what I am talking about, just read a few of the facts below. (I have included a few good links to check out) 

Let me make it clear: I'm not trying to make anyone a vegan.  That is not my intention, at all.  I am just trying to explain my reasoning and thought process. 

Believe the facts, or don't.  Eat meat, or don't. But, whatever you do... please, don't go petting any cows. It can't be safe.

http://www.liberation-mag.org.uk/vegan.htm

http://www.goveg.com/theissues.asp

http://www.veganmeans.com/how_veganism/Becoming_Vegan_what_is_veganism.htm

Trick or Treat!

~Why can't the boy ghost make babies?
Because he has a hollow weenie.~
-a very intelligent riddle maker

With Halloweenie so close, the candy bars are flying off the shelf, and the smell of empty calories are tickling at your nose. I am all for indulging my sweet tooth, no worries.  Here is a list of vegan candy that you didn't even know were animal-free... so buy it, give it, eat it, love it. Vegans and Carnivores unite.

Airheads Taffy
Blow Pops
Brach's Cinnamon Hard Candy
Brach's Cinnamon Hard Candy
Brach's Orange Slices
Brach's Root Beer Barrels
Brach's Star Brites
Charms lollipops
Chocolove Dark Chocolate bar
Chocolove Orange Peel (Dark Chocolate Bar)
Cry Babies
Dem Bones
Dots
Dum Dums
Entenmann's Fudge Delights Fudge & Mint Cookies
Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Chocolate)
Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Oatmeal Macaroon)
Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Peanut Butter)
Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Vanilla)
Ferrara Wafer Swirls With Chocolate
Fireballs
Grandma's Peanut Butter Sandwich Cremes
Hot Tamales
Hubba Bubba Bubblegum
Jolly Ranchers (lollipops and hard candy)
Jujubees
Keebler Animal Crackers
Keebler Club Crackers
Keebler Vienna Fingers
Kool-Aid Gels
Krispy Kreme Fruit Pies
Laffy Taffy
Lance Sugar Wafers (Strawberry Creme)
Lance Sugar Wafers (Vanilla Creme)
Lemonheads
Mambas
Mary Janes (regular and peanut butter kisses)
Mike and Ike
Nabisco Ginger Snaps
Nabisco Iced Oatmeal Cookies
Nabisco Oatmeal Cookies
Nabisco Original Graham Crackers
Nabisco Teddy Grahams (Chocolate and Cinnamon)
Nabisco Uh-oh Oreos, Spring Oreos, Chocolate Creme Oreos, and Mint Creme Oreos
Nestle Double Chocolate Thin Mints
Now and Later
Nutter Butter Bites
Panda Licorice
PezRing pop lollipops
Skittles' Mints
Smarties (U.S. version only)
Sour Patch Kids
Starburst (jelly beans and hard candy)
Super Bubble
Swedish Fish
Sweet Tarts
Twizzlers
Utz Puffed Caramel Corn

Dining Out

~Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant??

I’m halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my God....I could be eating a slow learner.~

-Lyndon B. Johnson

We used to think that going out to eat together would end up in unhappy compromises where I force down a side salad straight from the Dole Classic bag (but costs 3 times as much) while he enjoys a nice steak, or other times when I savor every bite of a vegan BLT while he pretends to swallow "meat"balls and other healthy versions of his favorites. This no longer is the case.  We have compiled a large list of restaurants that are vegan and carnivore friendly, where both of us leave satisfied (and without a chip on our shoulder!) However, don't think for a second that I don't go running to Cafe Seed, and he to Oklahoma Joe's, the second one of us works late or eats out with friends!

Tip: If vegan gets a meal that has meat included in the price, never say "without." Instead, ask for the meat on the side, take it home, and carnivore can make a sandwich for lunch the next day. If you're paying for it anyways, don't go giving it away for free! (bet you've heard that before ;) in this case, being aggressive is encouraged)

A few restaurant ideas... (I will only include a vegan option or two, since most places are very carnivore-friendly) Some are local to Kansas City, but most are nationwide chains:

Blue Bird Bistro (KC)-- An organic restaurant with menu items consisting of vegan tofu fries to pork chops, and everything in between.

Boston Market has several vegan options, including the steamed vegetables, zucchini marinara, tossed salad (without the croutons and dressing), apple cobbler, chunky cinnamon applesauce, cranberry walnut relish, and fruit salad. Go for the 3 sides meal, but pass the cornbread off to carnivore.

Chipotle-- Everyone has their own recipe, just like at Starbucks... My vegan meal goes a little something like this~ Veggie Burrito Bowl, no rice, double black beans, two scoops of mild salsa, one scoop of medium salsa verde, two scoops of corn salsa, guac, and lettuce. Yummmm (the rice is made with cilantro, citrus and salt, therefore is vegetarian... but I leave it off because it is so filling.)

Chili's-- Vegans can have tostada chips and salsa as an appetizer, veggie quesadillas—replacing the cheese and sour cream with extra vegetables—or the Cadillac Fajitas without the meat. The Black Bean Burger has egg and dairy in it, so it is vegetarian, but not vegan.

Dairy Queen-- offers a vegan "ice cream" bar called Star Kiss. Dairy Queen also has vegan slushes in cherry, grape, blue raspberry, lemon lime, watermelon, and kiwi strawberry flavors.

Houston’s-- offers a veggie plate and the Vegetarian Burger. Just be sure to order the burger on vegan bread.

Jason’s Deli-- The Garden Po’ Boy, the Portobello Wrapini, and the Spinach Veggie Wrap are your vegan options, but be sure to ask about the vegan status of each of these dishes—it varies by location.

Little Caesars and Papa John's-- both pizza joints have vegan dough and sauce, so design a pizza full of veggies, sans cheese, and you'll be one of the guys watching the football game in no time!

Macaroni Grill-- One of my favorite restaurants! It has several vegan options, including all the pastas with garlic and oil and its Capellini Pomodoro. Also, split an appetizer, such as the Tomato Bruschetta and Penne Arrabbiata, but leave the cheese off. When opting for a salad, choose the house or garden without the cheese and top it with the restaurant’s balsamic vinaigrette, Italian dressing, or roasted-garlic vinaigrette.

P.F. Chang’s-- one of the most vegan-friendly restaurant chains around. Its vegetarian menu is terrific, and everything can be made vegan, from appetizers such as Tofu Lettuce Wraps to entrées like Orange Peel Tofu and Ma Po Tofu. (However, don't look at the fat grams in the Ma Po... I guarantee it'll scare you away forever... tofu and broccoli.. who knew!!)

Subway’s Veggie Delite-- Get it on Italian bread and without cheese or mayo (go for spicy mustard for a kick). I take my subway home, stick some fake lunch meat on it, and smile at carnivore because, for once, our meals look alike. Romantic.

Taco Bell-- dishes can be veganized simply by omitting a few ingredients. The 7-Layer Burrito can be vegan with five layers—just forgo the cheese and sour cream. The tacos, nachos, and Mexican pizzas are vegan when you ask to hold the meat, cheese, and sour cream. Or stick with the bean burrito without the cheese.  However, you've just eaten Taco Bell... so don't count on that fresh feeling you might get from Subway!

Waldo Pizza (KC)-- Best Vegan Pizza! They will make you "cheese" breadsticks, any pizza, and a cupcake for dessert--all vegan and tasty! My favorite!! (go on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday... these are the nights they have specials.. otherwise it's pretty expensive. "They sure are proud of their pizza" carnivore likes to say!)

Bon Appétit!!

Chicken Enchilada Dip

~One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. ~

-Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

I received this easy appetizer recipe after several of my girlfriends raved about how yummy it was. I then, being the jealous vegan I am, decided to reconstruct it for my own scrumptiousness.. and it turned out great. (According to the carnivore, who can eat both versions) I have included both recipe options in the ingredient list.


Make the vegan version first, and you don't even need to clean out the bowl for carnivore!


Perfect with Baked Scoops, which are made from whole corn and vegetable oil. Jalapeno Scoops go perfectly, too!

Chicken/"Chik'n" Enchilada Dip

-3 chicken breasts (rotisserie and canned chicken work great, too!) OR 1 bag Morningstar Farms Meal Starters Chik'n Strips
-2 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese OR 2 (8 oz) pkg. Tofutti Plain Cream Cheese
-1 1/3 cup cheddar cheese, grated OR Vegan Gourmet Cheddar Cheese by Follow Your Heart
-1 tsp minced garlic
-1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
-1 tsp cumin
-1 tsp oregano
-1 tsp paprika
-cayenne pepper to taste
-red pepper flakes to taste
-1 bunch cilantro
-4 green onions, chopped (I leave these out, just because we aren't green onion people... still great!)
-1 can Ro-Tel (drained) (I prefer Hot)


Directions:

*cook chicken breasts, then cool and chop/shred OR microwave chik'n for 45 seconds on a paper towel or plate

*in a separate large bowl, mix cheeses until creamy, add spices and mix well

*add chicken/chik'n, cilantro, green onion, and Ro-Tel

*gently fold ingredients together
 

Tip: I use my food processor so that the dip is very creamy, as opposed to having chunks of chicken/chik'n.

Best served chilled, so stick it in the fridge and make yourself a marg! A mini fiesta for vegan and carnivore!!!

First Things First...

~ Eating is not merely a material pleasure. Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life and contributes immensely to goodwill and happy companionship.

It is of great importance to the morale. ~

-Elsa Schiaparelli

First Things First.  So what's a vegan? What's a carnivore?

Merriam-Webster defines a vegan as: a strict vegetarian who consumes no animal food or dairy products.  A carnivore is defined as any typically flesh-eating mammals.

Two polar extremes, and yet we fell in love.  A bizarre relationship built upon similar personalities and character, and not about commonality of that on our plate.  As we "became one" we realized our meal planning did not.  It has taken us over a year to establish similar meals, where the base can be shared, with our own proteins added in.  It is our hope to share some ideas, inspiration, advice, and funny anecdotes with those living divided under the same roof... hopefully resolving the often painful age old question: What's For Dinner?