a few things we ate this month





Here is a sampling of some of the food we ate this month.  You saw the ingredients I bought and now here they are in action. I thought I'd start with dessert because it's so pretty.  Lemon tea bread with a dollop of blueberry yogurt and fresh blackberries.  Recipe coming soon in a post all its own.





Whole wheat tortilla filled with lettuce, radishes, cucumber, onion and pumpkin seeds with my favorite Dijon vinaigrette.



Yellow split pea soup

1 cup split peas
4-5 cups water
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1 minced garlic clove
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon liquid smoke

Wash peas.  Combine all ingredients, bring to a boil and reduce to a slow simmer covered for about an hour and a half or until soft.  You may have to add a little more water and time to this equation. Keep the lid tipped so that it does not boil over.  Thickens a lot by the next day so just add more water or vegetable stock.  This is delicious, hearty and cheapppp.





1/2 banana
a few ice cubes
1 cup of spinach
1 cup of chocolate milk
1 great snack





Corn tortillas stuffed with refried beans and extra jalapenos.
Salad with avocado and fresh cracked pepper.







Vegetable stock

4 cups of broccoli crowns, broccoli stems, zucchini, spinach or whatever green veggies you have.
A great way to use up anything and everything in your refrigerator.
1 or 2 carrots
1 or 2 celery stalks
1/2 cup onions
3 minced garlic cloves
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
fresh or dried basil is good here too
salt and pepper
6-8 cups of water
bring to a boil and simmer until veggies are soft
puree in blender

Add to anything needing vegetable stock or just add rice, noodles or sip on its own.



Assorted roasted vegetables over brown rice.

Roast assorted veggies with a light drizzling of olive oil, s&p on sheet pan for 30 minutes in a 400 degree oven.  Serve over rice, pasta, mashed potatoes or alone.






The next day roasted veggies pureed with vegetable stock.
Add in the leftover brown rice for delicious roasted vegetable soup.

That's pretty much it.  Plain, simple food.

On another note, I'm having a lot of trouble replying to comments.  Something is wrong with blogger and hopefully it will be fixed soon.  I'm trying to answer any questions but if I don't get to them right away or my reply winds up on the wrong comment, I apologize.  Other than that, see ya soon.





60 comments

  1. Brown rice - I love it as much as I love oats and could live on it, I really love your food Janet, it actually makes me want to learn to cook which is a huge thing for me.

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  2. I used to be married to a vegetarian. Now I'm married to a total carnivore. I swing both ways.

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  3. Good Morning! Since I eat a vegan diet as well, my meals are about the same but they don't look nearly as appetizing and pretty as yours! Family and friends always ask me if I get tired of eating vegetables for every meal...it's hard for them to see that I'm not missing out on anything. Please do give us the recipe for the lemon cake. There is nothing I love more than lemon dessert.

    I'm having trouble leaving you a comment...especially if I'm not using my laptop. The comment screen goes blank. So, hope you get this! xo

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  4. Thank you for sharing the recipes, Janet! As I am slowly introducing vegan cooking in our every day, a post like this is a huge help. Why do we ever go out to eat when we can cook/eat such delicious & healthy food at home (my mantra)?? I'll be impatiently waiting for the lemon tea bread desert recipe :) And you know what our boys will be having for their afternoon snack? Banana/spinach/chocolate milk drink. ox

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  5. Your food looks so fresh and healthy and nutrient-packed Janet! Very inspirational!

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  6. If only I could make you my quartermaster & mess sergeant!

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  7. Many thanks for another great posting! I have loved each and every word on your pantry and supplies and grocery lists ... I am sitting here looking over the latest ad from Aldi and checking for affordable items from our neighbourhood Sprouts (a medium priced organic food store); and of course I will be checking out our local 99-cent stores too!

    Cheers! from the cold DFW area
    Jan at Rosemary Cottage

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  8. Love this Janet - we eat a lot alike! I love fresh food - just finished a kale/peppered goat cheese salad for lunch with just a squeeze of lemon - so nice and fresh!

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  9. The vegetable stock sounds so comforting and flavorful, not to mention super healthy!

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  10. I haven't eaten breakfast yet and now after reading your post I must go do just that. Every dish and concoction looks scrumptious! You are making me think of using my blender more often, I never do. Going off topic slightly, I think your white dishes really add to the beauty of your food. It's all gorgeous and elevates the look of "simple" food to extravagant. I can't get enough of your blog.

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    Replies
    1. I agree. I've had so many patterns but have ended up with all-white dishes for years now. It started out because my husband is color-blind and the mess of colors (he can see a limited number in an altered state, i.e. green looks like baby-poop brown...his words, not mine) in the pottery/glaze/pattern conflicted with the food to where it was completely unappetizing to him. Now, I can't enjoy anything unless it's a white plate and a clear glass. Let the food and drink speak for itself!

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  11. The amounts pictured would be your individual portion size or is this just an appropriate looking size for photos? If it IS the individual portion size do you go back for seconds?

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    Replies
    1. i usually just snap a photo of my plate, so yes these are my portions sizes. larry eats more and i sometimes go back for seconds but usually not. :)

      oh and we usually have a salad with dinner and homemade bread too.

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  12. Looking at these delicious images has given me quite an appetite.
    You know what they say...a picture is worth a thousand words.

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  13. Your photos are great and your meals are making my mouth water! I have been "cleaning out" my pantry and cooking simple meals similar to yours but yours look so much nicer. Thanks so much for the recipes and ideas. I always do better with lifestyle changes when I have specific examples to see and you have certainly provided them! Please don't stop. Letting us in on your daily routines is anything but boring!

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  14. Janet,
    The food looks delicious and so healthy. Keep up the good work, you truly encourage us to do better (budget wise and health wise).
    Thank you,
    Liz



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  15. Janet,
    Yum. Question? Do you ever order take-out or go out to eat?
    pve

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    Replies
    1. we did eat out a lot last year but this year we will def be eating at home more. i have a 1x a week date with my girlfriends and we go to happy hour so my bill is usually $5 or under.

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    2. Janet, This is my new year's resolution of sorts - to stop eating out so much and consequently save more money. Since we've been doing this, I much prefer our home-cooked meals over restaurant or take out on taste alone. It's all about tweaking old habits, isn't it?

      Today we got a notice from our health insurance stating our premium will be raised to $700./mo. for our family of three. Ba***rds! Time to tighten our belts even more.

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  16. That pea soup looks awesome. Using liquid smoke is a great idea. I'll make that one day soon.

    I've been having a lot of trouble with Blogger the past week or so too.

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  17. Hi Janet,

    Great photos! And even greater recipes with beautiful presentation! Many thanks for sharing.

    Regards
    DeeJay from Whangarei, New Zealand

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  18. wonderful post Janet. I really like that your recipes don't have a whole lot of ingredients and no unusual ingredients. in the past I have purchased things, usually spices, which I only use that one time and a year or so later realize they probably are past their prime but I hesitate to throw them out because of the expense. actually I have some smoked paprika that had left over from a while ago and thought I might try in in the pea soup as I don't have any liquid smoke. also I love roasted vegetables!
    Darby

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  19. Thanks so much for posting these ideas---we've been trying really hard for the past year to eat meatless for 3 full days every week, but I'm often at a loss for what to eat besides pasta and salad. This gave me some great ideas!

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  20. Everything looks so delicious! Split pea soup is a staple in our house, too. I have never tried liquid smoke, but we love it with smoked paprika. I think smoked paprika is like vegan bacon, makes everything taste better!

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  21. Yum! You should be a food stylist or open a restaurant. I love all your beautiful photos. And I swear I could stare at your house photos all day no matter how many times they are posted. It's all so calming …

    Shelley Rose

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  22. Hi Janet, could you share with us details about the benefits of supplemental foods such as Yeast flakes, veganaise, etc... I've never seen these items in our local stores and wouldn't know which brands to choose. Also, do you drink coffee or only teas? Btw, your meals look delish!

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    Replies
    1. deni vegenaise is just an egg free mayo that is delish. yeast flakes are a great sub for parmesan cheese. i drink coffee on occasion but prefer tea.

      this post shows the brands i buy.
      http://thegardenerscottage.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-pantry.html

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  23. all looks so healthy and tasty!!! xxx

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  24. It's really helpful to see how you used your groceries.
    Thanks for the veg stock recipe. I've been wondering how you make yours.

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  25. LOVELY photos! So fun to peek into someone else's life. I have to say. I would DIE at your house. You are a saint! Id eat Twinkies for breakfast, red licorice for lunch, and white bread sandwiches for supper if I could, all washed down with a cheap white wine or bottle of amber beer. I will live vicariously through you to improve my health.... :)

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  26. I do love that vinaigrette recipe too!! I've copied your soup recipe and will try it. Did you know (of course you didn't), I have a file on my IPad of your recipes. They have all been fantastic!! I'm planning to make your mushroom Bourguignon this weekend. We are heading closer and closer to vegan so your recipes are a big help. Enjoy your day. xoxo

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  27. Oh, I am so, so stoked over this post, Janet. We have your secrets now. Thank you so much for sharing so much good stuff; LOVE having the recipes. Girl, you are on a ROLL...like somebody else said, on fire!!!

    Hey! I got my blood tests/results back and I am severely low on Vitamin D. My 'regular' primary doctor was quite stymied over it and I bet he was feeling a tad guilty he never checked it before on me. It could explain some 'bad' things going on with my health of late. So glad to be able to correct something; I had just bought the OTC Vit. D. supplement and he said, "make sure you're actually taking them, daily!!". I got more sunshine earlier in my life but now I've had the skin cancers, as I know you said you have too Janet, so of course I avoid the sun which I guess we need for D...and then I drank cow's milk for years which was fortified with D but quit doing that. I just keep thinking, wow, it's a juggle and nothing to fool around with...

    I was a good girl while I was out during the noon hour. Stopped in at my local yogurt/salad shop where the gal is so concientiously trying to feed people right, and loaded up on mixed greens including chard and kale plus a careful selection of veggies like bell peppers, onions, cukes, etc. (just a little shake of vinegar, then a shake of olive oil and zero croutons which I really, really wanted, but no-no-no. I was telling her how I can't get onto chickpeas/garbanzos and she said she loves them raw right out of the pod). I also wanted ..oh, how I wanted it...the frozen yogurt, but I skipped it even though I could have gotten fat-free and sugarfree; it's not vegan/soy yogurt.

    Look how great and scrumptious your food looks here on the blog! If I lived near you and you still catered, I would SO hire you to feed me responsibly! I'll keep working on the discipline...

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  28. You've been very inspirational with these posts - I made your mushroom bourguignon the other night (using butter instead of Earth Balance) and it was AMAZING. One of the best things that I've made in years. Seriously.

    I've also been thinking about how (as a lacto-ovo vegetarian) I can reduce my reliance on dairy products and eggs. This is giving me more variety in my diet and getting me to eat more vegetables. Plus it should be much cheaper.

    I'm also looking at Aldi to see if they can be my low cost produce source - I don't think we have a 99 cent store here that carries any fruits or vegetables. Seems like a great find!

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    1. Sarah, what did it for me is thinking that egg is a chicken embryo. Why would anyone want to eat that?!
      I realize it's unfertilized, but still, why would anyone want to eat that. I always wonder who was the first
      person to see a chicken lay an egg and say, "Oh, I want to eat that?". Not me. Kathleen

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    2. Meh, that doesn't bother me. I have no plans to become completely vegan, but I wouldn't mind reducing my reliance on eggs and dairy.

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  29. As always, easy, simple food and beautiful pictures. What kind of camera do you use?

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  30. I am not a vegan, but am looking to incorporate more meatless dishes into my diet. Thanks a lot. This was very helpful.

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  31. Thanks for the cooking ideas, Janet. Love it. I'm always stumped for veggie options and you've given lots here.

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  32. I made your spinach potato mushroom enchiladas....they were so good!
    Suzanne

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  33. Great ideas, great pictures!
    Jana

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  34. Yummy! Do you know a simple recipe for the whole wheat tortilla? This would be a nice alternative to the everyday bread I have for lunch.

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    1. i've never made them paula but if i did i'd try this recipe.

      http://cooksrecipecollection.com/homemade-100-whole-wheat-flour-tortillas/

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  35. What a wonderful selection of simple recipes.

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  36. See Janet you dont need me to make your photos a success. People love your photography. You know what they say."If it works DONT FIX IT" ;)
    I know it's your Supper Bowl this weekend but my superbowl is just a few weeks away. Cant WAIT for Daytona. Wheeeeeeeeee.

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  37. Janet - Do you find that you need much protein to stay full and satisfied? I wondered if you make sure you have some at each meal? If so, what protein is your favorite? Also, I have a laundry list of topics for you if you ever get stuck. When I'm puttering around my house and come across things, etc. I say to myself, I wonder if Janet has this? or does Janet use this? or how does Janet handle this? Ha ha. Just let me know when you are at a loss. :) Thanks! Jennifer

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    1. And now I'm wondering, how does Janet get enough Vitamin D, because I have Vitamin D on the brain. If staying out of the sun, not eating eggs or fish, how do we get enough D without supplements? Janet, what did you figure out for yourself on proteins and other vitamins? I think you've become our guru.

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    2. jennifer yes i need protein to feel full i suppose like everyone does. i get my protein from a variety of sources, veggies, beans, tofu, soy. throw some ideas at me...i'm open :)

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    3. vicki i picked up a multi vitamin supplement today just b/c you guys had me worried. :)

      i think i get adequate vit d from the sun (i wear a hat to cover my face) but also from fortified cereals and fortified soy products.
      but now i have the back up of a supplement.

      thank you guys!

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    4. I try to go backwards to sometimes figure out why I do the stupid things I do, but I think with Vitamin D I never paid too much attention in reading about it because I, a few years back, did most of the stuff to get D, at least in the diet and, of course as we've all talked here about before, when a lot of us were younger, we were in the sun all the time and never worried about skin cancer. It was a sneaky creep...one by one, I didn't realize I was robbing myself of vitamin D...staying out of the sun, eliminating fortified cow's milk, not eating eggs (remember the big cholesterol scare) and I was never a fish eater because I've been allergic to fish oils since I was a baby. Weight gain can deplete D in the body, too, and I'm a victim of that sad aspect. I had to think to myself, too...when the heck did I stop taking a daily multiple vitamin? At some point in my 40s, I just stopped. I can only wag my finger at myself but I do wonder what life must have been like for my great-grandmothers who never seemed to have to worry about this kind of stuff and who lived to their 90s. A friend reminds me that their food was purer; stuff was processed differently. I don't know...the whole thing is so darn worrisome.

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  38. the answer to the chicken egg question...Man observed the fox raiding the hens nest..if it's good enough for the fox.....something like that. ;)

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  39. I just love your blog. I enjoy your food ideas, especially the tortilla ideas. I have made (when the weather is warmer) the one with avocado, sunflower seeds and lettuce many times. The chickpea avocado salad is awesome. You always keep it practical, attractive and thrifty. Thank you!

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  40. Janet your food always looks amazing and you have mad photo skillz! Awesome :)

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  41. Janet,
    I made the split pea soup today. It was so yummy! Thank you for the delicious, yet simple recipe!

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  42. Hi Janet
    I also made the split pea soup today. excellent and you were right about it being cheap, I had everything already except for the split peas which were at whopping 89 cents!
    Darby

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  43. Lemon bread...please! I have made the same damn lemon bread recipe a million times and it's always runny in the middle.

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  44. You must start collecting these treasures in a little spiral notebook with the intent of publishing a wonderful little cookbook that your devotees can have. I'm serious. I print these inspirations, with pictures, and refer to them often. A simple, small cookbook would be marvelous. By the way, I hate to cook, so you can see how inspired I am by your recipes.

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  45. You inspired me this week. I had some radishes and micro greens from my CSA that I did not want to eat until I saw this post. Your beautiful salads convinced me to make some of my own! Thank you! They were delicious. Also I have been using olive oil on my face instead of moisturizer the last couple days and my skin looks and feels amazing.

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    Replies
    1. oh that makes me so happy. radishes taste so good these days and glad you are using the olive oil!!!

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