Reviews & Recipes (February 25th)

One of my resolutions this year was to cook more, specifically learn to cook vegan dishes. So I've been busy doing a lot of that lately. I also have some Lightlife products to review as well. So let's get started!

I started off by making the quiche that we had at the Lightlife event a few weeks ago, using the recipe they gave us at the event and Lightlife's Gimme Lean Sausage (which they sent me to try).

My mom and I followed the recipe exactly, but it came out a little too mushy and not solid enough, so we'll have to revise it next time. The sausage was really good however and gave the quiche a nice, flavorful taste.

The other Lightlife product I tried was their original Smart Ground crumbles (which they also sent, thanks Lightlife!).

I used this to make tacos...

In the past I had used the frozen crumbles that other brands make, but I thought this was a nice change. The Smart Ground seemed fresher than the frozen kind and tasted better. I just mixed it in with regular taco seasoning and I swear there was NO difference (this is the perfect product to "trick" your husband or boyfriend with! lol They'll never know it's not meat).

Peanut has some "product reviews" too! :) He apparently loves Newman's Own pineapple salsa! (Which is probably not good for cats, but as you can see, I let him have a taste!)

There are very few "people foods" that Peanut likes. But anything with spices or peaches he goes crazy for! Speaking of peaches, for old time sake, he still loves his Mott's peach medley apple sauce too!

(Note how I even let him eat things on my bed! I am a bad mother-- clearly. lol)

Now on to the recipes... I printed out some vegetarian recipes from EatingWell. And here's how they came out...

The first thing I tried was the Portobello "Philly Cheese Steak" Sandwich (you can see the recipe here).

This was really good and I can't wait to make it again! Although next time I won't be adding red pepper just because I'm not really a fan. And the recipe is vegan if you use vegetable broth or stock (which I did). I did use organic provolone cheese (just a bit) to melt on top like the recipe said though, but it's easy to omit if you want.

The next EatingWell recipe I tried was their Bean "Bolognese" (you can see the recipe here).

This recipe is also completely vegan if you don't put parmesan cheese on top (which I did, again an organic and rennet-less kind). This was SOOOO good. And this is an INCREDIBLY healthy dinner because you get your protein with the beans, not to mention all the veggies! Can't wait to make this one again too!

And the last recipe I tried is courtesy of Mama Pea, and that is her Italian Wedding Soup. I modified the version a bit like my fellow blogger, Gabriela did (and you can see her version here).

Basically the only difference was, Gabriela and I used Trader Joe's meatless meatballs (a favorite of mine!) instead of making our own like Mama Pea. This came out great, and I was really impressed! (The picture didn't come out that great though, but you can see how it looks and all the cooking instructions on their blogs.)

I have not given up dairy completely yet (as evidenced by the cheese I throw on top of things!) and I couldn't help but get a frozen yogurt on one of our few warmer days we had a week or two ago at Red Mango (I went to the one here in Astoria on Steinway St.).

I got my usual, a medium original with granola and strawberries.

All this food is finger lickin' good...

Or maybe Peanut just decided to clean himself instead!

If Peanut could talk he'd say, "Mom, stop embarrassing me!!!" So that's all for now!

Also, thank you for the birthday wishes on the last post! I appreciate them!

Brunch & Bitter Cold (January 3rd)

Today I decided to venture up to the Upper West Side (and in this cold, it is quite a trek from downtown Manhattan). I wanted to go to Fairway Market (since I haven't been in ages), plus I was in the mood for french toast and wanted to try a new place for brunch. Now I have lived in NY all my life (except for 5 brief months when I lived in California when I was modeling), and I literally can't remember a winter that has been THIS cold. It is absolutely bitter cold... below freezing, day after day! When I got off the subway, there was wind and snow to contend with as well! I literally couldn't even find my way to the restaurant! But eventually I got there... I had brunch at Josephina (at Broadway & West 63rd St.). It stems from the same restaurant branch that owns Josie's East (where I used to go all the time back when I lived on the east side), and Josie's West (I've been there once before, see here). By the time I finally found the restaurant, I was starving!

Luckily they brought me food right away! I loved the bread basket... there were cute mini muffins and they gave me delicious jam to spread on them too!

I got their brioche french toast and orange juice (not pictured). This is the best french toast I think I've ever gotten at a restaurant... and they were really generous with all the fruit they gave me too (as you can see).

I was full until dinner after the brunch I had... Josephina is a really lovely restaurant... the atmosphere, the service, and the french toast is out of this world!!

For dinner Mom made a vegetarian quiche. She substituted meat for mushrooms.

I had 2 pieces, along with an orange (not pictured).

For my snack tonight I tried one of the new Luna protein bars. I had never even seen these before until I saw them on Ada's blog. She told me she got them at Fairway, and lo and behold, that's where they've been hiding! (Because I've never seen these ANYWHERE before.) I tried the cookie dough flavor, because I usually love anything cookie dough. It was good, and I'll definitely buy it again, but it could've been a little better. These reminded me a bit of the cookie dough Slim-Fast bars. Still, I think I like them better than the regular Luna bars... I have a peanut butter one to try too!

I also had a Wallaby "down under" peach yogurt. Peanut is a fan of yogurt, especially anything peach. Speaking of which...

Peanut has been taking this cold weather like a trooper! And you have no other choice in my apartment, being that it's over the garage so it's ALWAYS cold. God help the poor souls who take over this place when we leave at the end of the month!!

This week I'll be apartment hunting, so I'll update when I can to let you all know how it goes! The sad part is that it's not supposed to get above freezing all week. :( Can anyone send me some plane tickets to Hawaii?! I hear it's great this time of year and I may even get to meet the president too! lol