Tuesday, August 23, 2011

HH Meatballs and Other Stuff

Hi everyone...Happy Tuesday!  I didn't get the chance to post yesterday, because it was a pretty crazy day.  That just means more pictures for you today.   Last night for dinner I cooked Happy Herbivores meatballs and marinara sauce.  Both were excellent!  These were some of the best meatballs ever!  And, I'm taking that back to way before I became a vegan...they rocked.  I decided to use the spices that she used in her meatballs to make Tony his.  He said his were excellent too. :o)  


Over the weekend I decided to try my hand at making my own almond milk.  I used the recipe in my Raw Food Made Easy cookbook, or I guess I should say "non" cookbook.  Anyway, it was so good that I made some more last night.  I soaked the almonds for 12 hours and then put them in the blender along with some water, dates, and vanilla.  After that had blended for a bit, I poured the mixture into my nut bag that I won a while back.  Finally I got to use my new nut bag.  I squeezed out all the milk until just almond bits were left in the bag.  Tony thought that was pretty funny.  He told someone that they should have seen me milking the almond utters....anyway, the milk is great!   Almonds are so expensive though, so I probably won't be making this all the time.


I soaked some steel cut oats over night and then poured some of my homemade almond milk over them.  I also added some banana and dried cranberries.  Yes, I poured a little too much milk in my bowl.  Sure was good though.  This is what I had for my mid morning snack yesterday.  I had my usual smoothie first thing in the morning on my way to wok.  I think I'm hooked on smoothies like most people are hooked on coffee.


I had half of a Kombucha yesterday.  I drank it for my afternoon snack, and thought I was going to drink the entire thing, but I couldn't get it down.   It was filling me up.  I saved the other half to drink today.  I really do like this stuff!  I wish I could afford to drink one every day.  I've been seeing where some people are making their own.  I just wonder how hard that is to do?  I need to check into that.


This meal goes back to Thursday night.  Tony's mom made stew for everyone.  Being the sweet mother-n-law that she is, she made me some with no meat.  I went by her house on my way home and picked it up for our dinner.  As I was warming it up, I decided to throw in a little kale for some green action!  Her stew hit the spot! 


Saturday night we decided to cook Mexican instead of going out to eat it.  We made Tostadas.  Mine had refried beans, some Fantastic Foods Taco Filling, lettuce, tomatoes, green onions, Daiya cheddar cheese, and some tomatillo salsa.  I think this might have been the best tostada that I've made so far.


I've been craving kale chips, so Sunday I made some and ate them all by myself.  :o)  I massaged the kale leaves in some olive oil and then spread them on a cookie sheet in single layer.  I then sprinkled a little salt, paprika, and some nutritional yeast on them.  I baked them on 300 for about 10- 15 minutes.  Total yumminess!


Sunday morning while I was sitting on the porch waiting for Maggie to use the bathroom, I noticed a momma mocking bird sitting on Tony's car with a worm in her mouth.  She was really doing some talking too.  She seemed to be telling me a few things.  It was at that moment I noticed one of the shrubs moving.  I thought what in the world....So, I went to check it out with momma bird pitching a fit.  I then noticed this little guy.  Bless his heart.  He was learning to fly.  I happened to have my phone with me, so I snapped his pic and then went back to the porch so momma could take care of her baby.  I just love watching nature like that!


Question....Does anyone know what kind of flower this is?  I think they are so cool looking!  I would love to have some of these at my house!  I've been seeing these around but never up close.  These just happen to be at the retirement home where my mom lives.


~Peace~Love~Happiness~

13 comments:

  1. So much yumminess here! I have HH's book but haven't tried those meatballs. I'm a smoothie addict too!

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  2. Wow, you've been cooking up a storm! After reading your glowing review, I'm going to try those meatballs asap! All the food looks great! And, can you believe I have never made kale chips? I always think about it but never quite get there. Well, done on the almond milk too; it does sound yummy!

    I love to watch birds interacting with fledglings...so endearing and interesting.

    I think that flower might be a Hurricane Lily...not to be confused with the storm of the same name.

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  3. What an adorable mocking bird. <3

    I can't stomach kombucha much. I don't know what it is, but I just don't like it that much. I've tried, though!

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  4. kombucha is SO EASY to make! We do it at home. it costs about 10 cents a bottle compared to paying $4 apiece at teh store. SO WORTH IT! go for it!

    ~ Rick :)

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  5. Wow - you are making so many tasty looking things these days! Kudos to your mother in law for making a meal that you can branch off and have your own version, too. I can't quite say I'm ready for stew, but it looks good.

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  6. I like the Kombucha too. My favorite is the Gingerberry or Gingerade.
    The almond milk sounds really great too.

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  7. So much good food! I have got to try kale chips - I'm seeing them everywhere. Of course, if you want to buy them, they're like seven dollars. It makes so much more sense to make them on your own. Everything looks yummy. Cute baby bird!

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  8. Fantastic pics!

    Just when I thought this post couldn't get any better, there's a pic of a baby bird!

    Carissa made some Kombucha a while back:
    http://elilaiann.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-to-make-your-own-kombucha-at-home.html

    The flower is 'Lycoris squamigera' also known as Resurrection Lily, Surprise Lily or Naked Lady Lily

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  9. Amber Shea, you need to try the meatballs sometime. They're really good.

    Thanks Amy!

    Rose, you'll have to let me know what you think about the meatballs if you try them, and you really need to make some kale chips. :o) I think I could eat them every day. Hurricane Lily...not to be confused with the storm...lol Thanks for the information.

    Molly, for some reason I liked the taste of Kombucha the first time I tried it. I'm sure it's not for everyone though. At least you tried it. :o)

    Rick, I will be trying my hand at making my own Komucha very soon. It's good to know of someone else who makes their own.

    Jessica, I thought the same thing when Tony said his mom had made stew. I thought "It's too hot for stew", but after I started eating it, it hit the spot. :o)

    FoodFeud, I've never tried the Gingerberry or Gingerade. It sounds good though. I'll have to be sure and get that the next time I get to Whole Foods.

    BlessedMamma, You need to make some kale chips. I bet your kids would love them. Yeah, I can't bring myself to pay that much for them in the store.

    Shen, Thanks and I totally forgot about Carissa making Kombucha. Thanks for pointing that out. I need to research it a little more just because I'm anal like that, but think I think I'll try making some. Thanks for the info on the flowers! I don't know why I like them so much, but I do. :o)

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  10. I'm not sure what type of flower that is. I love the birdie pic! As for kombucha making, it's doable. You just have to be willing to wait. Search my blog because I did a post on it before :)

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  11. Michelle, my wife bought a Scoby online. We did not make our own. If you need info or have any other questions feel free to email me or comment on the blog.

    thanks, rick

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  12. I haven't made the HH meatballs, but now I definitely plan to! And you've reminded me that I haven't had kale chips in a while...have kale in my fridge and will make some tonight!

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