Good Monday

Hi Everyone!!!

I hope you had a great Plantiful Weekend. I sure did ---lots of cooking of course. Got the chickpeas all cooked up which are one of my weaknesses for sure. I can just eat them by the handful.

I am all ready for work today a short week though which is nice! I am catching Forks over Knives before I go today. I love that film and I watch is often to keep me motivated. 

It is going to be hot here this week so I am ready for it. I really do not eat much at work when it gets that hot as we are working in a tin can so to speak a huge metal building with no venting yet so it can get upwards of 100+ degrees in there. Since it is a water company we get to drink often and lots of water!

I quit drinking soda a few weeks ago. I miss the fizz though but I can still do that with just water also and add some flavorings. Dasani has not Propylene Glycol in it so that is a bit safer than MIO which does. I loved Crystal Light but it has aspartame so it is now out also. I am not opposed to Splenda but I use it rarely. I prefer organic sugar and sucanat. I have never cared for Stevia but I do use maple syrup and agave which are also getting less and less in my diet. 

Please tell your friends to follow this blog as I will be posting more recipes, my painted shirts etc in the next few months. I am new to this so it is a journey we will take together. I also love photography but am working on that one for this blog. I took the picture that is on this page years ago I love Mt. Jefferson. 

What are your plans for the 4th of July? Me I am working out in my yard and then having some carrot dogs, potato salad, and if I am really energetic make a 3 bean salad. 

Oh and I also ordered a new single serve coffee maker now I can have just one cup of tea when I get home and no worries. I do not drink a lot of coffee really so this will help on any waste. I get it next week oh and I can also use it for hot water how great is that!!!!????

Well enough rambling time to get going and start my day. 

Until next time

Keep it Plantiful

Happy Sunday

Happy Happy Sunday everyone!!!!

It is a perfect day outside today. The sun is out, not too warm is the forecast and just a very very slight breeze. This is perfection to me I love it when it is just in the high 70's and it is extremely quiet also here.
I also love my Sunday mornings even though work was a real hoot last night I still love my time.

Today is also my cooking day so the garbanzos are already on. Mac and Cheez is on the menu for this coming week, as is some potato salad, and the banana leather roll up I did well it is really actually pretty good.
I made the banana leather/soft dough in the dryer it was an accident I turned into something

1 good handful of walnuts
1 good handful of raisins
These were soaked

2 medium bananas
2 c. flax seed meal
1 good tsp of vanilla
Blend this all till really really smooth  then spread out on some unbleached parchment paper (regular if you have it) and then I put this in my Excalibur Dehydrator on 150 for about 4 hours. You could do it in a low over also.

When it is fairly dry then you spread it with some peanut butter( real stuff with just peanuts and maybe salt) then I spread  it with melted chocolate chips (I use Costco brand there is really not much in those)  and roll it up. I put this in the fridge overnight it got really really stiff but I took it out and let it sit at room temperature for a bit. I tell ya it came out pretty good. It is very very rich though so cut small slices.

Here is the result of my mistake LOL

So with that I will retreat once again to my kitchen and see what else is in store for the coming week.

The mac and cheeze is one of my all time favorites. I would prefer whole wheat pasta but alas it is just regular but that is okay. 

I keep my weight down pretty well eating this way and I eat a lot in fact I lost a pound yesterday while I was at work!!!! That is  a first for me but I was excited. 

So Until next time

Keep it Plantiful

TGIF

I am sure glad it is Friday today!! Only one more day to go. I loved my cashew taco butter the other day it turned out really really good  and paired with lettuce, tomato and organic oat bread mmmmm. Great lunch and not too heavy either.  I did try to make a banana bread spread well it is NOW banana bread leather instead the dryer is almost finished with it. I have to say it tastes just like banana bread!!!

I have my disasters as most do but I usually figure out a way to save them or use them in something else as I really do not want to waste those precious ingredients. 

I am also going to be mixing some nuts and beans together and see what happens.I have made cookie dough hummus before following a recipe I found online it was really really good.

 I will include the Cashew Taco Butter recipe below, You can follow me on Instagram also I am in there and Facebook, Twitter all of those. 

It is not too hard to make 

1/2 cup cashew butter

1 TBL taco seasoning (adjust to your taste and watch the salt!)

Mix very very well and enjoy--- this would also be good mixed into some tofu sour cream or tofu cream cheese.

Enjoy the time has just flown by this morning I have to get ready for work shortly. 

Have a most wonderful Friday 

Until Next Tiome

Keep in Plantiful

Plantiful Thoughts

I am glad for today as it is half way for my work week. Yep we work Saturday this week. I still have my morning though which I love!!! I find it calming to sit with my cup of coffee, peruse the news on the computer while I listen to my OPB which is public broadcasting here in Oregon. I live inside a State Park (Smith Rock) so it is also very very quiet up here except for the occasional WOOHOO from a hiker in the park.

This morning I am having my oatmeal with walnuts and raisins it is a cooler morning. I love these mornings clouds hanging overhead, stillness and the bird choir is singing in the trees for me. Silence otherwise very very peaceful.

The agenda for this weekend well my one day off anyway is to work with some nut butters, I had a brainstorm last night at work and was thinking I do not see many nut butters out there like date bread buttter, maple walnut butter, coconut cashew and chocolate etc. I thought well if they are not out there then I will have to just create them. I also want to make one that is hot and spicy!! Cashew Jalapeno comes to mind. You could drizzle that on a tortilla, add it to a dressing, mix it in with a tofu cream cheese or just eat it with your spoon!

I always have tons of ideas I however am NOT GOOD with measurements as I sort of fly by the seat of my pants on that one. I usually use a cup of nuts and go from there hopefully if I want to share recipes I will have to work on this or maybe not. I find it easier when I just go with it and if I end up with a bit much I share or I freeze it for later.

I also want to try a curry butter oh that would be falafel heaven to dip those into some great curry butter or maybe a garlic almond butter. Oh the ideas are just coming out of me again. I love it. I will share these as I want some alternatives to butter that us WFPB eaters can use.  I love nuts as they add some depth, protein, and flavor and occasionally some crunch.

So with the thoughts of nut butters in my head I will leave you.
Until next time

Keep it Plantiful!

 Oh and another cause I am all about is below!!!

Sunny Plantiful Day in Central Oregon

Another gorgeous day out a bit on the chilly side this morning but all is well. We had a bit of rain last night and I love to listen to the drops on my metal awnings there is no other sound like it.

What is up for today well work of course which I guess I should tell you --I stack bottles (empty of course) for Earth2o. That has to be the absolute best water ever!!!! I love my job easy on the brain, lots of laughs, but can be hard on the body. If you get the chance to try some water do it is an interesting story about it when you go to the website. I also get to check out my garden up there my plants seem to be doing well.

Today I do salad for lunch with the dressing in the bottom of the jar. This is a first one for me but I have seen lots of them out there and want to try it out. Glass jars is what I am slowly transitioning my house to and getting rid of plastic. I  do drink out of plastic but for storage and things I think I need to get rid of this very old plastic and I mean very old as in probably 25 years old or more. Glass however is also heavy when full so I am watching that.

I am just rambling this morning in my brain fog of which I do have.
I am onto doing more research about how to get my Plantiful business up and running. It is my exit strategy for semi-retirement. I have plans for my future and even though I do love my job I need to take care of my body also and it wont' take the beating many more years for sure.

So with that I am leaving you for today
Keep it Plantiful!

What --- Monday already?

Well here I sit all ready to head out to work in an hour or so. I finished up my shirt and have more designed and am coming up with ideas like crazy. Sometimes it just flows out of this brain. I love days like that however it usually happens to me around 11 p.m. I am a night owl. It is an absolutely perfect day outside today. I wish I could go for a walk but  alas work comes first. I will get to the place in my life where I don't have to go to someone else's to make my living and hopefully make it doing what I love to do which is paint and cook. I also love to walk but that would be the reward in the end. It will happen I am really thinking strong about it and it is my exit strategy so to speak. I would like nothing more than to be able to whip up some plantiful smoothies, a great dish of lentils, and maybe a vegan cupcake or two. The painting of my shirts would come along with that of course. They are simple but have a statement about living a plantiful life! EAT YOUR PLANTS!!!!!!!!!!
Today I am wearing this one and soon they will be available to you who want to purchase them. They are originals they are all hand painted so no two alike. I am working on the colors of shirts but  stay tuned there are tons more in this brain!
I had better head out and get ready gotta get some grub in the body also before I leave. My job is physical nothing major but in a hot building in front of a machine not so much fun.
Enjoy and
Keep it Plantiful

Beautiful Sunday

A beautiful day here today! I have been working in my yard and planting lots of things. It is not warm here really for this time of year last year was just brutal on all of us just hot from May till almost October. This year is a gentle transition to summer which by the way they say does not start till the 4th of July LOL.

I will be doing some baking tonight not sure yet I am thinking some muffins, maybe a loaf of bread, not sure yet nothing has really struck me. I am very full from drinking lots of water and enjoying my Almond Joy smoothie. I picked up my alcohol free almond extract yesterday along with some unsweetened coconut at our local health food store. They have some of the best stuff and good prices. Love the raw cashew pieces for my cashew creamer and milk which I use daily!!!! That leave the creamiest consistency to almost any sauce, smoothie or even a whipped topping sort of stuff. I call it sort of stuff as it is not as fluffy as whipped topping but it works just as well. 

Then being a day off I will relax also. Work can be hard on this body for sure. Standing 8 hours at a machine is not easy but it is a job! I worked on a couple T shirt designs yesterday also so will be cutting those out later and painting them up. I will share when they are finished. 

So with all of that I will leave you to enjoy your Sunday afternoon and evening. 

Until next time

Keep it Plantiful!

Dinner

Livin' PLANTFUL

Welcome to the world of PLANTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!! Yes you read it right Plantiful. I love to eat plant based anything and everything. I am not a sans oil completely as I am not perfect and find some stuff just does not work without oil period--example popcorn. It is a treat so no biggie there. I also love a teaspoon of vegannaise on my sandwiches now and then other than that I am pretty oil free also.
I follow the Dr.'s Esslestyn, McDougall and Bernard they all are wonderful inspiration for those who want to get healthy, stay healthy and side step a LOT of health problems. I am 59 years old and rarely if ever get sick I mean really 5 colds and one ear infection in 40 years pretty good I would say.

Plantiful is a new journey for me to share my knowledge of food(yep went to the Culinary Institute of America eons ago LOL), work on any questions you may have as I have lost 115 pounds and kept it off for like forever!!! almost 30 years pretty darn good I would say.

I also love to design T-Shirts and spread the word so look for few of those as well.
Today I went shopping got a lot of goodies and of course my one huge staple which is raw cashew pieces. I use them for everything from my creamer, milk and to even an oil free ranch dressing. Can't forget the potatoes as I live for those and the basmati rice to go into a burger(The ideas and recipe is from Jeff Novick)

I do hope you stay tuned for more stuff coming up. Tomorrow is outside working in my garden and yes I do grow some of my own foods and then of course working on a recipe for the blog. I can take a very complicated recipe and just strip it down to a few steps makes life easier and the results are the same.
I have always been able to do that some stuff however just needs to wait and then so be it.
Until next time
Keep livin' Plantiful.