Wins and fails.

The last week has produced some hits and misses in my culinary world. Let us review them.

I made this dish soon after my last blog post, and I can hardly remember what went in it. Like many meals I've made lately, it was a less-than-half-hour dish I threw together before Webber ran off to band practice. Let's see, if I examine the picture closely, there's quinoa, onion, local zucchini, and mushrooms. Also present: hot sauce crack and Chuck Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon. I wasn't really planning on putting red wine in this kind of dish, but Webber insisted to cook the onions and mushrooms in it.
Verdict: semi-win.

More novelty items courtesy of the PPK: Tempeh Helper. Definitely hurried through this one. I made it cuz I wanted to use up some tempeh I had, and it didn't require many ingredients. And then I forgot the frozen peas, so it ended up just being a lot of protein and carbs... yay. I might consider making this again, but with broccoli or other veggies mixed in. There was just so much of the super salty sauce, which stemmed from the combination of the immense amount of bouillon and nutritional yeast. Now I know what to do next time, that's for sure.
Verdict: fail, with potential for the future.

Sunday morning, Webber told me he wanted breakfast sandwiches. One that would satisfy a craving for your run-of-the-mill diner/fast food sammiches. In exchange for such a request, I made him a list of weird vegan products and had him take the trip to the grocery store. Sammich components include: Twin Oaks tofu (pan fried in liquid aminos and hot sauce), peppered Tofurky slices, local tomato, and Daiya mozzarella on a toasted English muffin. 

So as not to keel over from fake meat and cheese overload, I sautéed some mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and broccoli in herbs. To round it out, a local Gala apple, and some Chai Spiced Maté.

Verdict: total, absolute win.

Tonight's dinner stemmed from a need to use turnip greens that I acquired in the last veggie box. Probably my least favorite of the greens, I have yet to really understand them. In a haste, I sautéed them (and some leftover tofu) in liquid aminos, sugar, and a bit of apple cider vinegar, none of which helped cut the bitterness. Thankfully, there was some tasty asparagus, baked with olive oil and lemon juice (I was out of dill), and that Trader Joe's wild rice/basmati rice/veggie mix. Not pictured: the star of the meal- local acorn squash, baked and topped with brown sugar. That was easily the best squash I've ever had. Need. More.
Verdict: flailing fail on the greens, thumbs up on rice and asparagus, and a face melting win on the squash.

Currently playing: Dead Kennedys- Plastic Surgery Disasters, Alkaline Trio- Remains, Fear Before the March of Flames- The Always Open Mouth, Primus- Green Naugahyde

-panda-