"I miss summer already" salad

After reading the title of this post I know what you might be thinking, "Emily, it's only a few weeks into fall and you're already missing summer?!". What can I say? After having grown up on the salty coast of southeastern Virginia, I'm thoroughly a warm weather kind of gal. Don't get me wrong, I love early autumn with its lovely crisp air, leaves of various hues and foodie offerings like pumpkin pie and cider. BUT with the weather getting cooler, I'm already missing summer's warmth. Today's recipe is a salad that has the flavor of summer but has enough heat to keep you toasty in this cooler weather (especially if you like to go overboard on the black pepper like me!!).

"I miss summer already" salad
Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
6 oz firm or extra-firm tofu (~1/2 a container's worth; I promise, tofu is NOT as scary as it may sound!)
1/4 Bell pepper (in this salad orange and yellow are best)
1/2 Tomato
Alfalfa sprouts
Olive oil
Black pepper
Lime juice (optional)


Tofu

1. Place onto a plate and use a fork to crumble the tofu
2. Put the tofu on a skillet and mix in a little olive oil
3. Heat on medium heat for about 8 minutes while you prepare the veggies, stirring occasionally

Veggies

1. Wash and slice tomato and bell pepper to desired size
2. Wash alfalfa sprouts, blot on paper towel

Culmination

1. Remove tofu from heat and place on a plate
2. Sprinkle black pepper
3. Add alfalfa sprouts
4. Add sliced veggies
5. Drizzle olive oil, sprinkle even more black pepper, and if desired, a spritz of lime juice
6. Bon appetit! 

Sunset on Lewes Beach - Summer 2010

Warm start to a chilly morning - Figgy Oatmeal

Ummm, excuse me please but have you noticed that it is getting to be just a little bit chilly outside? The daytime climate is breezy and a bit cool at times, but still sunny and warm enough to fool me into thinking that summer might stick around a bit longer. Oh but every morning as I crawl out of bed, I am reminded by the nip in the air that Autumn is just about here. It's exactly this kind of in-between weather that lends itself to breakfasts that are spiced, warm and nourishing. Some slices of sweet summer fruit make me feel like I can hang on to the sunshine of summer just a little longer.

The Super-simple, Super-delicious Bowl of Figgy Oatmeal
Preparation time: 5-10 minutes

Oatmeal

• Prepare a serving of oatmeal in a pot with water
• Keep the oats on medium heat for 5 minutes/until the water is absorbed 
• Stir occasionally...you know the drill!
• Add a little soymilk/ricemilk/milk (1/4 cup) 
• Keep stirring until all of the liquid is absorbed
• Place in bowl

Figs

• Slice up 2-3 ripe Black Mission Figs
• Add to bowl with oatmeal

Finishing touches

• Spice it up with ground Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger and Nutmeg
• Sweeten it up by sprinkling on brown sugar or adding on a swirl of agave nectar 
• Eat it up and love every second of having captured Summer and Autumn in a single breakfast bowl! 

Light meal idea #1, or more aptly put, my Apple-icious sandwich

After being holed up in the library studying the majority of the day away, I decided to make a break for it and go home for some "me" time. That's right, I went home with the aim to paint my nails and watch "Oprah". Unfortunately, Oprah did not get my memo...Oprah's special guest today was teen pop star Justin Bieber. Seeing as how I am no longer a 12 year old girl, I was not impressed and this was not the relaxing point in my day for which I was hoping. This minor kink led to me making a return to my "yoga on the beach" class which I had been meaning to go to for a few weeks.

Before class, I felt like such a slug due to my schlumping in front of a desk for 5 hours reading about the wonders of matrix algebra and ocean circulation. After 45 minutes of being warmed by the sun, soothed by the bay breeze and gently stretching out every muscle in my stiff body, I felt...light as a feather and completely relaxed (mission accomplished - take that Oprah!). However, this new and improved me soooo did not feel like cooking. Or eating anything heavy for that matter. That brings us to tonight's entry...a light and delicious sandwich that is satisfying. Avocado and vegan cheese make it velvety while the alfalfa sprouts provide more texture and drama than mere lettuce can provide. As the name suggests, there is an apple in there too for a fun crunch and taste. Wait no more, here is the Apple-icious sandwich.

p.s. For those of you wondering, don't worry I eventually painted my nails after dinner ;>)

the Apple-icious Sandwich
(Total time: ~10 minutes)

Ingredients
    - 2 slices of whole wheat bread
    - Granny Smith apple
    - 1/4 of an Avocado (way better than mayo and filled with good fats)
    - Alfalfa sprouts
    - Veganrella cheese (or Mozzarella. Whatever catches your fancy!)
    - Peanut butter

Preparation


Sandwich - side one

• Avocado 
• Halve an avocado and remove about 1/4 of the fruit 
• Spread this on to one side of 1 slice of bread 
• Alfalfa Sprouts
• Wash alfalfa sprouts and pat dry with paper towel 
• Place on side of bread with avocado spread

Sandwich - side two

• Granny Smith Apple
• Wash apple and slice circles of apple
• Place apple slices on 1 slice of plain bread
• Vegan Cheese
• Slice and arrange on top of apple slices
• Place this arrangement (bread with apple and cheese slices) in toaster oven 
• Toast at 450 F for 2 minutes and then broil for 3 minutes
• Note: vegan cheese melts...better than you might imagine. Be careful that it doesn't bubble over the edges of the bread and onto the oven coils. 

Assemble sandwich and enjoy remaining bits of unused apple with peanut butter!

Quick dinner entry numero Uno: Asparagus, Mash Potatoes and Tangy Chicken

I'm in the midst of studying for my Ph.D. qualification exam. It's only the biggest exam that I will ever take in my life as it determines whether or not I can stay in my graduate school program. I've been studying bit by bit every day so preparing for it has gotten to be too bad yet, however I am getting to point where I am getting just a little bit stressed.

With this in mind, something super-simple for dinner is required. Simple but tasty meals involving few ingredients are typically my specialty, but due to my lack of time to grocery shop lately I've had to seriously scrounge through my pantry. That's right, I raided my "in case of natural disaster emergency" pantry shelf and broke out the boxed mashed potatoes flakes. As an advocate for cooking with all fresh food, I hang my head in shame on this entry. Even so, this meal was pretty delicious, proving that quick and cheap can still be mighty tasty and reasonably healthful. Interested in the meal below? Read on!

Asparagus, Mash Potatoes and Tangy Chicken 
(Total time: ~20 minutes)

Chicken

• In a pan on medium-low heat, place: 
• Olive oil (silver dollar-sized amount)
• Boneless chicken breast
• Sprinkle chili powder
• Lime juice (about 2 tbs)
• Place lid on pan, and cook each side of breast until cooked (~4-5 minutes each side). Don't overcook! 
• Remove from heat and cut into chunks. 
• P.S. see the "make it vegan" tip below

Asparagus

• Wash asparagus bunch and find the part (opposite the tip) that bends easily. Break off this end. (Trust me, you're not wasting it. It's too tough to eat anyways.)
• In a new pan on medium-low heat, place:
• Asparagus 
• Olive oil  
• Place a lid on pan and cook until the asparagus is a dark, vibrant green and begins to look just a little seared (about ~8 minutes).
• Remove from heat and place on plate immediately to avoid overcooking. 

Mashed potatoes

• Follow directions on mashed potato box, then skip to the 3rd bullet. OR
• If you choose not to go the boxed route like I did, follow this for the yummiest mashed potatoes ever:
• Thoroughly wash and cube red potatoes. Keep the skins! 
• Boil those babies up until completely soft (~15-20 minutes)
• Drain and place in bowl to mash
• For a smoother, creamier texture, try adding one or all of the following:
• Soymilk
• Olive oil
• Tofutti Sour Supreme: Better than Sour Cream (a delicious soy substitute!)
• Finish by adding garlic powder and dill. 

Want to make this meal even more healthy, cheap and kind to animals as well? Make it vegan by replacing the chicken in this meal with slices of firm tofu. Follow seasoning instructions given for the chicken and cook to desired texture.  

the Definition of Yumminess

   Experience has taught me that those seemingly insignificant things in life make you smile and keep you going. Sometimes happiness comes unexpectedly when discovering a great new place to hike, trying out a new yoga pose and other times it comes in the subtle form of re-finding that really great pair of snuggly socks in the back of my dresser drawer. 
   Being someone who loves to eat good food, bursts of happiness more often than not occur when experimenting with food in my kitchen. But as someone who is allergic to milk and also pretty darn lactose intolerant, the road to the dinner table has not always been a simple one. In the 15 years since that diagnosis, I have come to relish cooking with delicious ingredients (to the point where I don't even miss the milk), and love testing out dairy substitutes (in those recipes that just plead to be creamy). 
   My goal is to share a little of life's yumminess (mainly the foodie portion of it) in the form of a photograph, recipe or a even a little blurb. Hopefully it will get you thinking about all of the yummy things you can whip up in your own life too :)  Join me in my blogging adventure!  


Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it. 
-Ferris Bueller