Tuesday, October 16

Lazy Lunch for Two

I've been waiting for a good time to try tahini with Will again.  Chad was out of town this weekend, so I was lazy on the food-prep end.  We had some chickpeas in the fridge from earlier in the week, leftover rice and a 5-pound bag of carrots.  Out of those came our lazy lunch... hummus with extra garlic, seasoned rice and carrot sticks.  I topped my plate with an extra sprinkle of salt and sesame seeds and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil.  It was surprisingly delicious!  I even had more for a snack later in the evening.
 
 
Will enjoyed his lunch, too.  Carrots are always one of his favorite foods.  He reached for his carrot sticks immediately, and barely touched anything else on his tray for ten minutes.

 
Okay, best part of the lunch?  I made the hummus with tahini (of course) and Will did just fine!  No mess besides the bib and tray.  He shoveled the hummus in by handful once he finally set the carrots aside.  It wasn't  a colorful lunch, it wasn't a gourmet lunch... but it was quick, and it was rather delectable!
 
Happy Baby... and Happy MoFoing :)

Monday, October 15

Tahini?


My intent for VeganMoFo was to blog about what Will's been eating, but I haven't had time to go through and find good pictures or write fun stories.  Finally, here's a little story about Will and tahini.
 
As I've mentioned before, we just moved a couple weeks ago.  I knew it was going to be a busy weekend, so I took a personal day on Monday to get some more painting/cleaning/unpacking/settling.  I also decided to take Will to the sitter for the whole day.  Well, I slept in a little bit, got up with Will, fed him breakfast, and off we went to the sitter.  Chad and I worked on painting his room and were just heading to the basement to sort through boxes when the sitter called to say I needed to get Will.  Apparently, he had a few less than pleasant diapers and woke up from his nap in a mess.  Ugh.  Not what I had planned for my day, but whatever.  I cleaned the paint off myself, tossed the paint supplies in the basement and just as I was about to get in the car, she called again.  Now he had just thrown up!    On my way to get him, I called and was able to get in to see the doctor.
 
Long story short, he was smiley and chatty the whole time at the doctor and for the rest of the afternoon.  My day off wasn't a total bust, because I got to spend it with a happy baby.  The only thing I can figure out is that I gave him tahini (which he had never had before) and avocado for breakfast.  Maybe it was too rich?  Maybe it didn't sit well?  I'm not sure.  The doctor suggested we try it again soon, and since he was happy and had no rash, we would hopefully be okay. 
Avocado and Tahini... fine for finger painting and messy diapers?!
We tried tahini again this past weekend, and I'll give the update on that tomorrow.  Until then, Happy MoFoing :)


Friday, October 12

Native Foods #2

Chad ran the Chicago Marathon last weekend, so we couldn't resist another visit to Native Foods.  
 
This time I had the Scorpion Burger (with their homemade tempeh and cheddar) with a side of sweet potato fries.  The tempeh was  melt-in-your-mouth, the cheese was gooey, and best of all, it was sloppy by the end!
 
 
And Chad had the Bistro Steak Sandwich.  As soon as we read "bleu cheese dressing," I knew he would order that.  I was delicious... peppery seitan, crusty bun, messy dressing!
 
 
I forgot to take a picture of dessert.  I couldn't decide between the Pumpkin Pie and the Pumpkin Cheesecake, but finally went with the cheesecake.  I don't know what the pie was like, but the cheesecake was a pretty solid choice.  The crust was crispy, granola-y, nutty goodness and it was served with a side of pecan caramel.
 
Well, I couldn't quite keep up with MoFo this week, but things are really coming together at home!  Our furniture is coming tomorrow, Will's room is just about done, we have pictures on the wall (although more along the floor, but it's progress), there are few boxes (on the main floor at least!) and my sister even took Will for a few hours one night so Chad and I could be extra productive!  Here's to being more productive with the blog next week.  Until then, happy MoFoing :)

Monday, October 8

Cafe Manna

Me:  Chad, do you remember what you had the first time we went to Cafe Manna?
Chad:  Something that wasn't on the menu the next time we went.
Me:  Yeah, I remember that, but what was it?
Chad:  Some kind of yummy raw lasagna maybe I think. It was tasty.
 
 
Okay, so to be honest, I don't remember what either of us had.  Will was still tiny and slept the whole time, so it was early spring the first time we went to Cafe Manna.   One of the great things about this place is that the menu is different every time we go.  A few things are always on there, like their awesome Limonade, but the menu changes seasonally.   They also have amazing desserts-- like triple chocolate cake, chocolate fondu, cheesecake;  they offer fun cooking classes (which I haven't attendeded... yet); and they also have specials dates in the summer where you can dine with your dog on the patio!
 
Another reason I wanted to share these pictures today is Chad has a way of always ordering the best thing on the menu.  I'm often jealous of what he orders (although he's willing to share a taste with me), because he always ends up with something super fun and fancy!  Not to say my food isn't good, but based on the pictures, which would you rather have the server bring to you?!  I suppose I make up for it, because I'm the one who usually orders dessert... and what can be better than something dripping in gooey chocolate or piled high with peaks of frosting?
 
Happy Monday... and Happy MoFoing :)



Friday, October 5

Native Foods


Let me apologize in advance.  The pictures for today's post aren't the prettiest, but they're from my phone. 
 
Today's food comes from Native Foods, which we visited in Chicago this past spring.  It was amazing, super fresh and super flavorful.  The best thing?  It's 100% vegan.  Nothing's better than going to a restaurant knowing you can order ANYTHING from the menu and not have to ask 100 questions about the ingredients.  Go ahead, order the nachos loaded with cheese and sour cream.  Ranch with your burger?  Yes, please.  Carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting?  Why not!  The only bummer of this visit was that they were out of their homemade tempeh. 
 
Nuevo Native Nachos

Steamed Kale Macro Bowl

Chicken Run Ranch Burger
We're going back for a second visit this weekend, and I can't wait!  I have a tough decision to make... pumpkin pie or pumpkin cheesecake.  Or both?  I'm sure I won't be disappointed!  Happy MoFoing :)


Thursday, October 4

Comet Cafe


 One of our favorite places to eat in Milwaukee is The Comet Cafe.  If I'm picking where we go, chances are I'm picking Comet!  Their brunch has tons of great options-- tofu scramble, giant pancakes, breakfast burrito, biscuits and gravy (mmm, biscuits and gravy!).  It's usually packed on weekend mornings, but the wait is never awful and the food is well-worth the wait.  As a bonus, they have a decent selection of vegan cupcakes and pies that varies from visit to visit.  One of my favorites is the Banana Split cupcake-- almost banana bread-like, with chunks of bright red maraschino cherries and topped high with fluffy frosting and another cherry.
 


 


Wednesday, October 3

Cookies and Creme Cupcakes


31 days of October.  One of the days has to lend me more than 5 minutes to toss up a post, right?!  Well, at least today's post is homemade... Cookies and Creme Cupcakes.  I made these when I was visiting my mom this spring and found an UNOPENED box of Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe Joe's.  Unopened!  In spring!  I didn't know it was possible.  I always buy a few boxes and intend to make cupcakes with maybe one box (or half even, hey, I'd actually be happy with a row for baking), but before I know it they've all been dunked in a glass of cold almond milk or simply devoured.  If I have enough self-control this year to save some for baking, I think these would be cute with a little tint of red in the frosting. 


The house is becoming more and more void of boxes, which is a good thing.  The living room has a visible floor, our bedroom closet is housing clothes, the washer and dryer have been humming all evening... it's starting to look like home!  Here's hoping to settling in quickly and having a little time to relax.  Happy MoFoing :)

Tuesday, October 2

Green Owl

Another day, another lazy post.  Today's food comes from The Green Owl Cafe in Madison, Wisconsin.  The Green Owl is "Madison's only vegetarian restaurant."  It was Chad's second visit, but my first.  Anywho... onto the food.

I had the BBQ Jackfruit with a side salad...  



Chad had the Vegetarian Italian Beef with oven roasted red potatoes...



We shared the Middle-Eastern Platter, but the pictures are MIA.  Perhaps I will find and add them later.  Until then... happy MoFoing :)

Monday, October 1

Ian's Pizza


 I should probably start out VeganMoFo with something a bit more exciting, but I am lucky to have found my computer amidst the boxes of our move.
 
So... here is is, short and sweet... or saucy and delicious!  Earlier this year, Ian's Pizza started a "Vegan Slice Night" every Tuesday.  Having attended UW Madison, I had my fair shair of late-night slices at Ian's on State Street.  I was psyched to hear that some of my favorite slices were now going vegan, so Chad and I headed over there the first chance we had.  I think this was sometime in March, because we had a wee-little baby with us (who slept the whole time).  On this particular visit (there have been many subsequent Tuesday stops), we tried Mac 'N Cheese, Pepperoni and Barbeque.  The Mac 'N Cheese was unreal and definitely my favorite.  It's a gooey cream cheese base, macaroni, seasonings and all topped with shredded Daiya and black pepper.  Soooo good.
 
There you have it... Post #1.  Here's hoping tomorrow's post is a little more inspiring!  Happy MoFoing :)