Summer Garden

I planted a garden in mid-May. I called it the Garden of Procrastination because I waited so long to decide whether or not I would plant a garden.

Olivia loves the garden center.

I bought cucumber, okra, basil, cherry tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, lavender, and citronella. 

And here is the garden currently.

The basil is thriving, the cherry tomatoes are starting to amp up production. I have a few okra pods. The heirlooms haven't done anything yet but they're not supposed to until late summer. So, hopefully soon! I have tiny, inch-long cucumbers. This is my best attempt at gardening, so far anyway. I think all the rain and cool temperatures helped me out.

For dinner I made the Polenta Bake with Spinach and Mushrooms from One-Dish Vegan. It didn't look that great. The polenta did not want to spread evenly over the spinach-mushroom layer.

Tasted awesome though, with some marinara spooned on top. I guess we don't always eat with our eyes. Sometimes just with our mouths and stomachs.

Breakfast Fail

Sometimes a meal just does not work out. On Sunday, the Tofu Benny from Vegan Brunch was such a meal. Exhibit A, the "English muffins." Do those look like muffins to you? Yeah, they didn't rise at all. I'm not sure why because my yeast was brand new. I don't think my house is warm enough? I seem to have better luck with baking when I let my yeast dough rise in a warm oven.

Exhibit B, the Hollandaise sauce. Or, the goopy yellow mess. Like that toy slime that comes in plastic eggs. We just couldn't.

The tofu turned out fine and we rescued it to use on sandwiches. Everything else went into the trash. Sometimes I shouldn't try to do a big production in the morning. Jackson understands, Sunday mornings are for staying in pajamas until noon and playing.

Olivia thinks Sunday mornings are for being a goofball, but then, for Olivia, life is for being a goofball.

I think I redeemed myself with dinner, Hoisin Glazed Tofu and Bok Choy from One-Dish Vegan.

Skaters 2014

Summer...time to hit the skating rink! Where the cheesy yet ever-so-catchy radio hits are pumping and the air conditioner is blasting.

Olivia was ready.

Jackson acts like he's over it but he was excited, too.

For dinner I made Quinoa and Lentils with Butternut Squash and Rapini, from One-Dish Vegan. Except, HEB doesn't sell rapini, so I used mustard greens, cause I love them. Also, the recipe called for walnuts, but our Aunt Emma gave us several pounds of pecans from her trees, so I used pecans.

Behold the glory.

Quarry Splash Fun

Today we met up with my friend Jennifer and her girls at the Quarry splash pad. It was our first time there and I was pretty impressed. It is huge!

I was soaked by one of these water cannons within two minutes of arrival. You can't go to a splash pad and not get wet!

Jackson and Olivia spent about an hour just going down the waterslide, over and over.

"Again, again!"

My mom's neighbor gave us a bunch of plums from her tree, and they are Olivia's favorite snack.

Dinner was Sesame Soba with Tofu and Broccoli from One-Dish Vegan. The tofu had a great flavor, but the tahini sauce was a little heavy for the delicate soba noodles. I would make it again using spaghetti noodles.

For dessert we had homemade vegan ice cream. I used a recipe from The Vegan Scoop for cardamom-rosewater ice cream. Yay, a reason to use the bottle of rosewater that lingers in my fridge!

Lunch at Freddie's

Today we met my friend Jacqueline and her little boy for lunch at Freddie's Place in South Austin. Its spacious outdoor seating area, complete with playscape, makes it the perfect place to chill with kids for a leisurely lunch.

I had the grilled veggie pita sandwich, served with pesto mayo and a pickle. Very good; I finished it off and felt satisfied but not stuffed.

I also had to try a side of macaroni and cheese with Hatch green chilis. Super rich and creamy, with a nice amount heat from the chilis. I took most of this home for Tony since he loves spicy things.

After that, a light dinner was in order. I made the Spicy Soba Salad with Edamame and Cucumber from One-Dish Vegan. I doubled the amount of edamame called for, because I knew Jackson and Olivia would like it that way. They love those little green beans.

All Clean

Started off the day with oats, topped with Brazil nuts, peanut butter, and cacao nibs. I also stirred in a teaspoon of maca powder.

While Jackson was at school, Olivia helped me give the house a thorough cleaning. Drying the floors after I mop is her specialty.

Then we made a treat -- cocoa-coconut balls. I followed Laura's recipe, but substituted cocoa powder for half of the maca powder. I ate a couple for lunch along with pita chips, carrot sticks and hummus.

Dinner was Thai Peanut Bowl with Tofu and Asparagus, from Robin Robertson's One-Dish Vegan. So good. I love asparagus; it's one of my fave veggies and this is the season for it. Will definitely make this again.

Pretty straightforward day. Feel like I ate pretty healthy.

A Salad Triptych

Salad #1 with mixed greens, strawberries, goat cheese, falafels, cauliflower tabouli, hempseed dressing, and crumbs from some raw pizza-flavored crackers. I love having a different combination of flavors in each bite!

Salad #2 with mixed greens, falafels, hempseed dressing, green olives, and bee pollen. Changing it up ever so slightly.

Salad #3, a different kind of salad. Rigatoni and Beans with Radicchio and Olives, from One-Dish Vegan. I subbed tofu for the beans. I also subbed red bell pepper for yellow bell pepper, but I'm pretty sure that does not matter. Makes a ton, good for leftovers.

Olivia is tolerant of my hair styling experiments today, but just barely.

Super Kids

I'm going to make it a point to eat more bok choy in 2014, because I love it! While I was at the Asian supermarket picking some up, I impulse-bought this fried tofu studded with black mushrooms.

Result: Hoisin-Glazed Tofu and Boy Choy, over rice. This recipe is the first I've tried from Robin Robertson's new One-Dish Vegan, which I received for Christmas. A simple, tasty dinner. Can't wait to try more of her one-dish meals.

After dinner, Jackson and Olivia decided to morph into superheroes.  At their request, Tony drew shields on their chests. 

Super Jackson and Super Princess Olivia, to the rescue!