Another Great Meal!

Almost a year ago I posted a brief comment here about how, with a bit of creativity, research and experimentation, I could convert almost any recipe into a healthy plant based recipe.  I was eager to test out Caesar salad dressing.  It was one of those things that I couldn't imagine being delicious without dairy products but I hoped to have success anyway!  Well, almost a year later I finally made my vegan Caesar salad and it was worth waiting for!

Ceasar Dressing:

1/4 cup raw cashews

1/8 cup raw pine nuts

3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tbsp cold pressed extra virgin olive oil

1 medium garlic clove

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2-1 tsp agave nectar

1/2 -1 tsp Dijon mustard

1/4 cup water

freshly ground black pepper to taste

Blend all ingredients using a processor and puree until very smooth.

Am I a complete geek that I had ALL of the ingredients for that dressing on hand and ready to go?! My meal was perfect:

I have to show off my dessert of vanilla cupcakes with coconut icing.  They are made completely dairy free and without white flour or sugar except for a modest amount of powdered sugar in the frosting.  They are so moist and yummy!

Rocking the Work Day Away

They had a silly contest at work this week where everyone decorated their work space.  I work in a quad style pod so the 4 of us, who always have our ear buds in, decided to go with a music theme.  I brought in my Cd's, old concert tickets and a buch of rock posters.  We even had an awesome red carpet and backstage passes.  We blasted music, did red carpet interviews and were generally silly.

Here my co-workers are setting up the red carpet:  By the way, our department actually voted and chose the hideous wall color.

We sucked up to the judges a little bit by making Tim McGraw a "Compliance Star"  We still don't know what team won :(

And in case you wondered or cared...here is what my cubicle normally looks like the other 364 days of the year:

Rainy Sunday Nesting Part II

I also cooked my little tush off today. It was cold and damp outside but inside it was warm and cozy.


This is an apple crisp with raspberry garnish:

I roasted vegetables with olive oil and spices.  The red potatoes are from what will likely be my last farmer's market trip of the season.

I also made baked beans:

I think subconsciously all of the cooking comes after a week of little cooking or grocery shopping.  I foraged meals all week.  As I ate raw carrots for lunch last Thursday my co-worker mentioned that I should at least add some hummus.  My reply..."Thanks, but I ran out of hummus on Monday."    I will not be in need of food this week!

Rainy Sunday Nesting Part I

I spent today baking, decorating and reading.  It was pretty near perfect.  Last week I had a wonderful bouquet of fall flowers as a table centerpiece.  This week I brought in my fall/Halloween decorations and here is the new centerpiece. 

I love decorating my fireplace mantel:

And I love the way it glows and casts shadows at night while lit with tea lights: