julie’s kind kitchen

First news, I got a lunch box! Yeah. Remember long long ago when Jennifer Shmoo posted about the deal her mom (Grandma Shmoo?) got on a lunch box. Well, I was browsing through Bed, Bath and Beyond (I had a coupon) and I stumbled upon that very lunch box. It was really cheap and looked pretty nice, so I bought it! Turns out it’s just what I needed to make my lunches more fun (and organized) and resist the temping Mediterranean place next to my work.

Here’s my lunch box filled with some buffalo style chicken wingz made with Bryanna’s “Chicken” Cutlet recipe from the DVD.

After my class tonight, I went to this bad ass oriental market near my school. I got garlic chili oil, pot stickers, miso, soba noodles and agar agar. I decided that Bryanna’s cutlets would be delicious in a stir-fry, so I whipped up a simple stir fry using this as a guide. I uded a little bit too much of the chili oil, but it was still delicious.

Tomorrow is Friday!! Woohoooo

My bff (haha, I love saying “bff”) is having her birthday party on Saturday and I am making her some vegan cupcakes :] I’ll post about them on Sunday.

One more thing: Have you checked this out?! More evidence that being veg*an rocks!

I finally am the proud owner of a copy of Everyday Dish!! I used to be a Food Network addict (when we had a tv), so this dvd is a dream come true for me.

First, let me start off by saying that these women are spectacular! Not only are they good cooks, but they are über cute (was I the only one that noticed that Julie Hasson could be a super model??), charismatic and fun to watch.

Next, there are so may quality recipes presented on this dvd, I think it’s worth well over the asking price. Seriously! Not only do you get the recipes, but you get a step by step video demonstration! Some of those recipes I would never think of making with the recipe alone (Chicken Cutlets), but with the demo they seems doable.

*UPDATED WITH PICS*

I brought my Mom some of Julie’s Deli Soup (with variations) on Saturday because she just got back from a hospital stay for intestinal problems. She loved the gesture and the soup. Also, my 8 year old brother had a huge bowl and said, “This is homemade? It’s sooooo good!!” I couldn’t believe it! He’s a super picky eater.

Here’s my bowl of soup (hey, I wanted to try it too!!) with added tofu.

Next I made the “Chicken” Cutlets, Bryanna’s recipe. OH MY! These were soooo good. I can’t praise these enough. Make these now. I had them Art Style.

Lastly, since I felt so bad about Matt not getting to eat the yuminess that is the “Chicken” Cutlets, I made something soy-free for him, Dreena’s Chickpea Sensation Patties. I had to try these right out of the pan and yuummmmy. I’ll have to sneak a few for myself :] Matt has yet to try them, so I’ll report back on that later…

Hello all!

I just got done cooking for 2 hours straight and here’s what I made:

vwaw corn chowder

pasta and homemade sauce

tofu dill sandwich filling

The corn chowder and tofu dill sandwich filling are from vwav and the sauce is a variation of the one Joni posted on her blog. I also made some insanely rich (and insanely good) chocolate pudding from a recipe I found by Julie Hasson. Sorry, no picture of that one-but, I figured you all know what chocolate pudding looks like.

The spaghetti and the chowder will be dinner for Matt and I this week and I will take the tofu dill sandwich filling on some crusty bread to work for my lunches. I have been incredibly busy lately, working 9-3PM and then go to school from 5:30-9PM. Sheeesh. Oh, well-the class is almost over anyway.

Speaking of this class, it’s anatomy and for some reason I have to take it before starting my graduate classes in social work. I am super pissed that I have to take it already(why??), but then I found out last week we are dissecting a lamb’s brain on Tuesday. Looks like I’ll have the rest of the night free after lecture that day, since there’s NO way I will be participating.

Hope everyone is having a great summer…seems like it’s coming to an end fast!

I’ve decided to create a new blog. No more Sweet & Sour Life. I am a different person and surely a different, more experienced (I hope) cook.

Here’s a few things I’ve made since we last talked:

homemade gnocchi with lower fat pesto and garlic knots

The gnocchi recipe is from Vegan with a Vengeance and the garlic knots recipe is from The Damn Tasty Vegan Baking Guide. The pesto is a recipe from yellowroserecipes blog. Everything was good, but the standout was the pesto. Soooo good and low fat too?! Matt doesn’t usually go for pesto because it’s “too strong” but he enjoyed this pesto very much.

oatmeal drizzles and brownie bites

The brownie bites are a modified version of a raspberry chocolate cookie to appear in Veganomican when it comes out. They alone are worth getting the book. Trust me! The oatmeal drizzles are another one from The Damn Tasty Vegan Baking Guide. They were fabulous!! Matt and I ate SO many.

crispy sweet and sour seitan

This is a lolo recipe. I am sure you are all familiar to her blog Vegan Yum Yum. This was a great recipe…and the sauce…OH the sauce….yum.

crepes with bluberry sauce and frosting

The crepe recipe is from Bryanna Clark-Grogan. It is posted on The Everyday Dish website. I’ve never made crepes before and yummmm, they were good. I would like to find another recipe, though, only because Matt is allergic to soy

no queso quesadillas

Last, but certainly not least, these queso-less quesadillas are from http://pakupaku.info/. I love this website and of course the recipe was an A+. I opted to leave out the corn though. Maybe I’ll add it in next time. Also, they are on my favorite tortillas from Ezekiel 4:9.

Lastly, this fabulous (brand new) Mat & Nat purse is still for sale.

Happy 4th of July and Canada Day!

NEW BLOG!

It’s still in the works, but check it out and update your links :]