Whole Wallet is right

Just got back from my shopping trip to the Whole Foods, Costco etc. Yes I live 30 miles away so I do not get there often. I have to say I am EXTREMELY disappointed in Whole Foods they have become a mecca for processed foods!!!!!!! Just crazy and the prices at this one were outrageous. I could not find a raw cashew there but even if I did it would have been close to $10 a pound (I get them at my local little health food store for $5.19 a pound!!!!!) I found spirulina for $60 REALLY!!!!!!!????????????? WTF is going on my wages have not gone up so I can not afford any of their stuff. I bought I think 3 things and the bag $22 the least I have ever spent there in my life time. I doubt I will ever go back no need. Costco is right next door made a huge score of fresh power greens, frozen cherries, frozen organic broccoli florets, walnuts, almonds, pecans etc. I will be back for more frozen fruit-- was saddened I could not find the bag of delicious apples but maybe next time. Got my supergreens for smoothies at Bed, Bath and Beyond right next to the Nutribullet display so I am good for green now.
Just needed to vent as my shopping sprees are usually better I even stopped at the Target (have not been a target store for years either) and walked back out it was filthy!! Stuff all over the floor so no need to go back there either. I am funny that way if it looks dirty it probably is so I don't go same for Wal-Mart have not been to one for almost 10 years and no plans to ever go into another EVER!!!!!!!
I am home and have the next 3 days off so I am going to head to the local grocery which is 4 miles away for some produce and start cooking. Yard work tomorrow then just hang out. I will get some of my things online instead at least I know I get what I am looking for and don't have to spend anything on gas which this trip costs me about 4 gallons at $4 a gallon so shipping is cheaper. NO chance of an accident either LOL.
Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday weekend I know I will.

Feeling Fall

Well I can feel it in the air in the mornings now. FALL is coming upon us and I can hardly wait. Should feel more like it this weekend. I have my shopping shoes on headed to the Big Town LOL. Well for me anyway I am 30 miles from the nearest Costco, Whole Foods etc and with gas prices so high here I rarely get there well this weekend I make the trip!!! I have my list-Almonds, Walnuts, Apples, some peanut butter and hopefully a huge bag of spinach. I am hitting some of the other stores also looking for Spirulina powder, maybe some Mucuna if I can. I am losing my weight and have 7 pounds to go I am now 5 lbs lighter than high school!!!!! Who would think that at 59 years old. I feel really good and am loving my Nutribullet the drinks it makes are fantastic and the recipes are super. They use a lot of the superfoods so I did yesterday Maca, Chia, Goji Berries etc. If you have not tried these please do I got some at the local stores but I order from Nuts. com  they have super products, great service, fast delivery and things I would not normally have where I live. Their prices are also really pretty good. I can get my cashews cheaper here at a local store as well as the agar agar powder so I also support the local guy. 

What gadgets do you own, superfoods have you tried or just your favorite recipes? I love my Buckaroo beans so they are on the lists of things to make this weekend I have 4 days off so cleaning the house, my yard and lots of cooking is on the list of to do's. Oh and order a Nutribullet Rx is also on that list. I also plan on getting a few books The New Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook is one of them by Anne and Jane Esselstyn. Check it out on Amazon it looks amazing their recipes are always great. 

So for now I am just focusing on my health, my weight loss and to prove that this can be done on a plant based diet without calorie counting. I know I am not eating as many calories either but a good 400 calorie nutriblast in the morning, a small and I mean small lunch of melon and saltine crackers(5) then home for some vegggies and rice or potatoes and another blast well I am full, I am getting what I need and the weight comes off. I will be turning some of those nightly veggies into a soup instead when I get the Nutribullet Rx though. I can make soup while I take my shower when I get home from work how nice is that!!!! 

So with that thought in mind I will leave this blog done for today. I hope you enjoyed the recipe for the caponata I made a huge batch and eat it over Bob's Red Mill Brown and Wild Rice combo. 

Have a wonderful weekend 

Until Next Time

Keep it Plantiful

Busy Month

Whew!!! It has been a very busy three weeks for me. I have worked two Saturdays and was in a parade on one of the other Saturdays'. Just too busy and am still trying to catch up on things. Being all by yourself makes it a bit more difficult as my bird is really not good at housework LOL.

Today is Anne Burrell's Caponata recipe sans the oil and sugar. I love that stuff it is just the best I even made a special trip to get the eggplant. I do not roast the eggplant I just cut it up and pretty much put it all in a pot and let it simmer-- I have tons of zucchini as you can see from the picture that is from the garden I have at our work place. I have 8 Acorn squash sitting here that will also be very good stuffed with the caponata her recipe is the best thing I have ever eaten.
I will put it below just remember you do not need to use the oil or the sugar and it still comes out beautifully.
I can feel fall in the air which is a great sign for me as we head into my favorite months of October, November and December. They are my favorites. I like September too it feels like a new year is beginning with school starting that sort of thing time to reaffirm my plant based ways. I am finding it much easier anymore to just eat this way the weight stays away, I can eat tons of food and like what I get.
I am also excited to be ordering the New Nutribullet Rx

I will be doing that in a week or so.  It makes hot things!!!!!
Then next up another order from Nuts.com they have the best stuff ever that will be a LOT of pitted dates. Time to get some books also. I have a lot on my plate and keep my Walk Live Leader certification so a busy time for me. .

Here is the recipe and until next time ---Keep it Plantiful

Caponata-Anne Burrell

Ingredients
1 large eggplant, peeled, alternating with 1-inch strips of skin left on, cut into 1-inch dice
Extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1 fennel bulb, cut into 1/2-inch dice
3 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch dice
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 red and 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup tomato paste
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup capers
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/2 bunch mint, cut into chiffonade
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In a large bowl, toss the eggplant generously with olive oil and salt, to taste. Spread out on a baking sheet and roast until the eggplant is soft and mushy, about 15 to 20 minutes. Reserve.

Coat a wide deep pot with olive oil. Toss in the onion and crushed red pepper and season with salt, to taste. Cook over medium-high heat until the onions are soft and aromatic, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Add the fennel, celery and garlic and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the peppers and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes. Add the zucchini, season with salt, to taste, and cook until the zucchini and all the veggies are soft and aromatic and starting to come together as a stew, about 5 to 6 minutes. Toss in the eggplant, 1/2 cup of water and the tomato paste. Cook until the water has evaporated. Dissolve the sugar in the vinegar in a small bowl and add it to the mixture. Stir in the raisins, capers, pine nuts and mint. Cook for another 5 to 6 minutes.

Let cool and transfer the caponata to a serving bowl. Serve immediately or even better tomorrow or the next day.

Cashew Yogurt

Well it has been an interesting week to say the least. This picture was my first batch of Cashew Milk  Yogurt ever. It was delicious!!!

I have never worked with agar agar before but it turns out beautiful yogurt. That was a bit too thick for me but that is okay in a smoothie it won't matter! I also just ate it layered with some grape nuts I had around here but perfect with granola. I had put in some chunked up peaches in this batch. I will need to work on the flavoring part of it a bit. I just turned out my second batch yesterday I of course forgot to get the agar agar working well so I reheated and WOW it thickened right up. A bit too much so I have some of the base in the fridge waiting for the next batch. The next batch will use some of the new batch as the culture and I will see if that works.

The machine is awesome!

I got the Cuisinart machine that also cools it down it is wonderful-- the yogurt that came out of this machine is like no other I have ever had. Easy to use, holds a LOT and worked perfectly. Takes 8 hours to culture then they say let it cool for 12 hours but I let it cool for a few hours then put it in the fridge. The taste is unbelievable. I have another yogurt maker but it is not like this one. I got this one at HSN.com on flex pay it is $129 plus shipping but still a wonderful machine. I have used it 3 times already in a week! It is also fairly small so it stays on the counter top. 

The recipe for the yogurt will be coming as I need to tweak the agar agar a bit to get what I want and I think I need to strain the cashew milk, or soak the cashews(I am really bad for that one) anyway with cashews being so neutral in flavor they work the best.

What have you been cooking or making? It has been warm here so this makes a great dessert or smoothie, after it is done I was planning on adding it to some frozen bananas in my Dessert Bullet and see if I can get some frozen yogurt out of it. Alternating with yogurt and banana it should work. 

I had better head out and get ready for work today it is very very hot in our building and yesterday my air conditioner died here so the house will get warm also. NOT FUN but I will survive. 

Until next time

Keep it Plantiful

Fresh veggies and yogurt

Wow fresh tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, and zucchini what could be better!!?? I am using them in all kinds of things. Waiting for the tomatoes to ripen but the rest are coming along and I already had 10 zucchini picked.

Hopefully I will get a couple cantaloupes out of it also as they were a bit stunted with some watering issues.

I am also looking forward to a few books this winter and I am going to order from Nuts.com as I see they have chestnuts there.I also see they have maca powder, mullberries and a lot of things so there is also a wish list on that site. I will be perfecting my cashew yogurt as well I like the thickness now but would like it to be a bit thicker. This batch was made with cornstarch albeit not organic but hey you gotta work with what ya got!!! I have tapioca starch and agar agar here also. I think the agar agar will work best but it took me a couple times around the internet to see how they use it for other milks. I get it now and will be trying that also. It is rich, creamy and I added vanilla I swear it tastes just like some of the stuff I have bought in the store sans the soy!

Would you want to try it? I am in love with cashews and they also work on things in your head

I know this works I made cashew milk for two weeks and wondered one day why I was so upbeat and just found myself smiling!!! Try them they are also soft so no need for nut milk bags etc.

You can soak them if you wish but I usually don't I use 1 cup maybe 1 cup and 1 tablespoon to 5 cups of hot water put it in the Vitamix and turn it on. I use this for my yogurt, my creamer, my smoothies, over cereal, just for anything. I also make alfredo sauce out of these, white sauce, whipped topping you name it they just work for everything. 

Well enough on those as I can go on and on about the benefits of them also for your heart too.

I also like the fact that my things usually have very very few ingredients and no additives. 

So with that bit of news I will be off to enjoy my muesli and anxiously await the arrival of my new Cuisinart Yogurt Maker that also does the cooling!!!

Until next time 

Keep it Plantiful

Happy Saturday

This is a picture of my amazing garden area at work. I work for the Earth2o bottled water company. I stack empty bottles as they come out of the blow molding machines. We inspect them then put them on a palletizer and they are ready to be filled with the absolute best water ever! The gardens there are a way to use the runoff water from the filling machines it goes into a huge tank then is pumped out to our garden area. It is also a green company as well. This is not the latest picture it has almost tripled in size. I have gotten 7 zucchini already, I have about 20 tomatoes on the plant, somewhere around 60 lemon cucumbers and my cantaloupe are also on their way. Oh and I have 4 acorn squash as well. I am having a blast with this I did not do it last year as I had already planted mine here however they grow up there like there is something going on. It must be the water LOL. 

Today I am making yogurt and zucchini chips. I am enjoying my Saturday as I usually do.  Tomorrow is yard day and then to work out a few things in my head to start making more of my own food. I have grown a lot of things so far but would like to continue this so I am looking at building some sort of  something maybe a few straw bales for sides something like that. I will think this through then keep you up on that.

Any plans? Mine are just to hang out and not do much it is headed for the dog days of summer so time to relax and then get ready for fall and winter. 

Happy Saturday everyone

Until Next Time

Keep it Plantiful

Good Thursday

Good Thursday everyone

Well here I sit trying to get my house cooled off before I leave for work. It hit 100 degrees in that building yesterday and that is not a lot of fun! Very hard on my body anyway. I am hydrated but still you are uncomfortable to say the least and then in the winter it is a brisk 50 degrees so the same. It is a huge building so I understand and that is part of the manufacturing world for sure. 

I am just grateful for having a job that is 40 hours a week so I just keep moving forward.

I am also surrounded by wildfires here so the air to say the least is very smoky. This is not the healthiest time to be outdoors either. I work 17 miles away which is closer to the fires and there is ash falling in the air there. It will get here though usually does and this is a typical Central Oregon summer. Being so hot and dry and most of these are due to the 1000's of lightening strikes last weekend. I always feel bad for the displaced animals who lose their homes when this happens. This is mother nature doing some house cleaning -- but it still bothers me.

As for the food part of it well I am still drinking my smoothies for my brunch every day, my lunch at work yesterday was just some cucumbers and crackers. Heat and food with me are not to be combined well.

I did put some celery, cucumber and apple in my NutriBullet but I was not too thrilled so after trying to drink it I decide hmmmm a great base for gazpacho so that is what I am doing with it this weekend. I froze it and it will be there waiting for the rest of the ingredients. I love gazpacho.  When I have things that don't always work out well I try to think of something else they will work with or at least turn into. I don't like to waste things and it happens to me. I am trying very hard but I am not a menu oriented person but I should be would be good however when the day comes to eat a certain thing what if I am not in the same mood as when I wrote it? What do you do?  Being a trained chef it is so much easier to make something quickly and I can literally make some of the worst foods taste great so no need for the menu then? I will see if I can start this fall and get the menu thing going. It would be great for the shopping list. 

What is up next I really don't know. I always have things going on in my head -paint my shirts, work on some recipes for this blog,just some hints and tips for cooking quickly, whatever comes to my mind.

I need to really think this out. I would like to make a few bucks on the side. I have dreams of a lot of things and being close to 60 well sometimes I think it is too late other times I think HECK NO!!! My one dream is to have a food cart that just sells potato dishes period. Just spuds that is all with all kinds of toppings that sort of thing. I make some awesome potato items. Sort of a spudnation sort of thing LOL. I think it would work and it would be fairly easy to do with just potatoes. Just ides running inside my head all of the time. I am sort of a leftover hippie, listening to that different drummer for sure. 

Well here is my dessert from last night

Maple, Banana and Walnut Ice Dream

Bananas-frozen but thawed a bit for the dessert bullet

Walnuts

Maple syrup 

You put in according to your tastes 

This tastes like maple walnut ice cream I did this in the dessert bullet but if you add some nut milk you can also make it a shake.

Enjoy the day

Until Next time

Keep in Plantiful