Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Don't judge a book...

Pudding! Glorious pudding. This coconut banana pudding from La Dolce Vegan might not be the prettiest pudding in the world, but it sure is delicious! I made it on Monday I think, and let it sit overnight hoping it would firm up. And it did! I had to use up the almost full can of coconut milk I had from making the pancakes. The pudding has coconut milk, bananas, a bit of sugar, salt and cardamom. It makes for a great dessert. I just finished the last bowl. I probably ate a gazillion grams of fat from the coconut milk, but meh.















A few weeks ago, out of curiosity, I ordered the book Slimming for Vegetarians by Leah Leneman (author of Vegan Cooking for One) and it came today. Little did I know its from the 80's, first published before I was born. I was hoping it would have weight loss tips and the likes but its actually just a bunch of recipes. I'm sure I'll try them, but I won't be following the daily menu plans anytime soon. She recommends only eating 1000 calories a day! And many days, there aren't enough grains or fruits. I know that eating 1000 calories a day is not enough, and if anything, will only make it worse (ie. feeling deprived, slower metabolism). But the meals are healthy in themselves. It was only 20 cents from amazon so its not a big deal. If anything, I've got one more cookbook with recipes that make single portion sizes!

The lentil-sunflower pie keeps getting better! For dinner, I put half a slice of it in a sandwich, mixed with some vegenaise and mustard, with lettuce and tomato, and served the other half with the tahini sauce. Both ways were awesome!

I didn't cook anything new today, but within the next few days, I'll be making a stuffed spaghetti squash recipe from How It All Vegan, and a cream of celery soup from Vegan Cooking for One.

My birthday is on the 23rd. My mom was asking me what I wanted and this is what I told her: I want to cook a nice vegan meal and a vegan birthday cake and I want the whole family to sit down at the table and eat it with me, and not complain. You don't have to cook and you don't have to buy me anything. I think I convinced them to do it, as long as I make a "normal" meal, like penne with a tomato sauce or something. Sigh...I can't wait to make the cake! I can't decide which one to make :)

9 comments:

Danielle D. said...

Be sure to post about the cream of celery soup. Cream of celery soup used to be my favourite store bought creamy soup, but the one time that I tried to make it from a recipe, I didn't like it.

sarchan said...
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sarchan said...

Coconut + banana = good. And I have been meaning to make that sunflower-lentil pie for quite a while now; I have so many lentils . . . I checked your blog in awhile and in response to one of your earlier entries--I wish I had the O.C. on DVD (though I have been lucky enough to borrow it from friends); I definitely think it would enhance any exercise :)

Anonymous said...

my birthday's also on the 23rd! If I were to make a cake I think it would be the chocolate upside down pudding cake.. I think it's from How It All Vegan. I'm sure I haven't made nearly as many cakes as you though so I have less to choose from as my favorite. but I definitely love that cake regardless...

Melissa said...

haha laine, I think I've only made 2 or 3 cooks since going vegan! I was looking at that cake, but I think I decided on the banana split cake from Sinfully Vegan...its one of the healthier ones.

Sarchan, it really does enhance exercise! Plus the girls are so skinny, its a little motivation :P jk

Dreena said...

Melissa, I love your idea for your birthday - so good of you too!! I love cardamom in baked goods and desserts, I think I would like that pudding too!

Carrie™ said...

There is a recipe in Dreena's book, The Everyday Vegan for a chocolate cake that is soooo good, no one would know it was vegan. That would be a good one to use to wow your meat-eating family.

Melissa said...

I don't have the Everyday Vegan...yet ;)

Thanks Dreena, I could've sworn I posted this earlier but I guess it didn't go through.

I'm going to make a banana split cake from Sinfully Vegan, its one of the healthier ones.

Carrie™ said...

Ooo! Sounds good. Really good! Let us know how it turns out. What are you planning on making for the dinner?