Sunday, November 29, 2009

One of the best kitchen tools ever and a product review

The cleaver. Huge and intimidating but awesome and wonderous once you get to know it.
I was determined to figure out how to use this puppy. It slices, it dices, chops, smashes. It does it all. Once I finally bought one ( a cheap one at that ) I had no idea how to use it but I wasn't going to let that stop me. I knew all the possibilities that were in store for me.
The first week using it was really awkward. To have such a huge utensil in my hands. Really I felt like an idiot but the coolest thing happened. Once the cleaver knew I was serious about learning how to use it it started to give me its secrets.
I didn't have to go online to figure this stuff out. The knowledge flowed from the knife, up my arms and into my brain. We are now best friends and I can't imagine life without him.





Here is my product review of a great bar of dark chocolate I discoverd about a week or so ago.
As you can see from the wrapper it's dark chocolate, no milk product at all and says it has almonds, pistachios and hazelnuts. Notice it does not say chopped or pieces of.
I picked it up and felt nothing but bumpiness. Good sign. So I took this $4 potential yumminess home. I NEVER pay that much for chocolate so I was really hoping that this would be worth it.



As you can see from the front of the bar it has separation. Separation doesn't usually affect the taste of chocolate so I wasn't scared.



Until I saw the back of it. How long has this thing been sitting on the shelf anyway????



Well, as you can see I took a bite of it before I took the pic and let me tell you. The separation did nothing to take away from the taste of heaven that this chocolate provides. It's a complete shame that its just been sitting on the shelf ignored when its just chock full of nutty dark chocolate goodness. Well no worries. I am willing to spend the $4 on you my chocolate lover. Oh yes. I will be there!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ahh Thanksgiving. The day where you know you are not the only one spending the whole day in the kitchen slaving away. That millions of others are doing the same thing at that same precise moment. A moment of unity...well sort of. My day wasn't focused on what to make surrounding a once alive and beautiful turkey. I've been reading some blogs lately and thought about adopting a turkey. Money is really tight right now though but maybe soon.... In the mean time here are some pics of what I've made for lunch today, well actually made yesterday but you know what I mean. I didn't make too much because we always go in my in-laws for Thanksgiving. I just bring enough food for myself and some to share.

Roasted Garlic mashed potatoes with fresh oregano and fresh rosemary




Vegan Mac and Cheese with fresh spinach, chopped carrots and meatless beef ( which I forgot to add when I took this pic)



Pumpkin cranberry nut bread. One with chopped pecans and the other with chopped walnuts.




Here is a pic of one my cats.
Osugimasu basking in the sun. Check out how twisted her body is!





Did you know that according to National Geographic Thanksgiving Day became a national holiday in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln? And according to this website Hogue News Lincoln appointed it the last Thursday of the month of November while President Franklin D. Roosevelt made it the 4th Thursday of the month since there can also be 5 Thursdays in the month.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Changed blog name

I have changed my blog name to a more appropriate one. Vegan In Tennessee.
It seems I live in a state where there is hardly anything for vegans unless you make it yourself.
I am vowing to change this. Vegetarian and vegan restaurants barely make it a year here before going under. That being said I want to let you know about a new vegetarian/vegan restaurant opening next month. Its called The Wild Cow. I also want to let you know that I have never met the owners of this restaurant or anyone working for this place. Just want to get to word out so people here in Middle Tennessee can go and support this place. I will be there. Will you?