Perfect Fall Day!

When the warrior princess must leave me to go save the world (the life of a superhero) I get to fill my time with those items that I don't get done when she is home and a couple of extra curriculars.  During the summer that usually entails garage sales and running.  But now that fall has set in the garage sales are far and few between and well... let's just say I have fallen off the running wagon... anywho this time I spent all day in the kitchen.  And with ZERO guilt, because even as I made all of these wonderful items nothing I "quality controlled" or ate was going to blow out my waist line.

Hopefully this time next year I will be complaining about running around and chasing a rug rat but  until then I get to come up with fun ways to prepare for that.  Every time I make something I think of how it will translate toddler in tow.

Today's was a great day cooking for me!

Look at these beautiful Yucca Chips!!  I have been trying to make yucca chips based on this original recipe I had but I keep burning them and then they are not all that edible.  I think I have made them 5 different times and FINALLY found the perfect balance.  If you have never had Yucca Chips they are great because they are light in flavor, heavy in texture and perfect for dipping in guacamole, pico de gallo or any other dip.

Something else I have been trying to perfect is a homemade Honey Dijon dressing and I think the one I made today might be the winner.  I LOVE Honey mustard but the warrior princess hates it.  In fact when I first moved in she told me my honey mustard would have to be in its own fridge out in the garage ha ha.  Guess where it is now :)

Just because it is natural, whole plant -based doesn't mean it isn't pure evil.  Case in point:  homemade Larabars.  This could be bad!!  I tried Pecan Pie flavored last week and they turned out GREAT!

But I wanted more!  So I looked up more recipes adapted them slightly and set off to make Lemon Larabars today.  I got most of the way through the first batch and was zesting the "lemon" and it was being incredibly difficult and it was kind of soft.  I couldn't understand what was going on, until I cut into it to juice it and TA DA, it was an orange LOL not a lemon.  I just went with it, used the orange juice and added a little cinnamon to make it a orange cinnamon bar.  The next batch I made sure I had a  lemon!   They are not as firm as the Pecan Pies ones so I might mess with the recipe a little bit but so so good!!

And finally for dinner tonight I made a Parsnip, Apple, Sweet Potato bake.  It was the perfect fall day dinner.  The apples were from the tree in our yard and I discovered we have an apple corer!  This whole time I have been doing it manually.  And I finally got to use the corningware I scored last summer at a sale.  The minute I opened the oven the sweetness of the apples, onions, parsnips and sweet potato reminded me of freshly baked pie.  The garlic and pepper added just enough spice and balance.  What a perfect family dinner (which means I will have leftovers for days!) 

Necessities

There are TWO tools that I could not do this without: olive oil sprayer and my laptop.  Thank God for other bloggers, youtube, and recipe websites.

Yummy Goodness

One the reasons I took time off from trying to get pregnant was because of work:  this is my busiest/craziest time of year and trying to get pregnant is stressful enough, the two together would be recipe for one crankalicous Junelle and the other is that timing wise I don't want to be on maternity leave during my busiest time next year... timing is everything!  

Anywho as mentioned earlier  I am taking advantage of this opportunity to learn how to cook plant-based whole foods.  Can I tell you, that I feel AMAZING!!!  I am a self-professed coffee addict and most days I would get an afternoon coffee and probably a pastry of some kind.  B-A-D.  I did this because I was crashing and needed more energy so I craved sugar.  Since I have started eating a majority of my calories and meals from plants I no longer crash in the afternoon, do not crave sugar, and am not hungry because I eat all the time.  In fact, both the Warrior Princess and I noticed we are having surges of energy throughout the day.  She was startled by it as a matter of fact. 

This has transformed me so much, that I am actually looking forward to cooking, heck I even bought an apron and rearranged my kitchen cabinets to make them more user friendly.  People, you need to understand how big of a deal this is:  My first apartment the stove was a desk, the next few places I lived with other people that cooked, then for 3 years I lived without a kitchen at all, finally when I bought my condo the kitchen had no doors or drawers and it barely affected me.  Today, I have a kitchen and well let's be honest, that's because it is the Warrior Princess's domain not mine. So for me to actually spend time in the kitchen and enjoy it?  Watch out people!!  

So, what kind of things am I making?  Here is a sampling of all that yummy goodness:

Kale Chips - Awesome Snack and awesome for you

Dayleen's favorite soup so far Bok Choy and Sweet Potato.  You must try this, Bok Choy has a light refreshing flavor but an amazingly meaty crunchy texture making this tasty soup extraordinarily filling and satisfying.  

Broccoli, Orange, Spinach salad with homemade vinaigrette and roasted harvest veggies

Look at those gorgeous veggies! Right before they were put through the juicer.

I can't wait to share more with you!