New Beginnings

This has been a week of new beginnings. New beginnings which have kept me away from my computer and this blog. However, I am happy to say that I am back and I am able to once again share with you. The only problem, is that apparently, you cannot 'upload' your MSWord Documents into the blog, which is frustrating because I have quite a few recipes already typed into Word that I would like to quickly 'cut n paste' rather than re write. But, since I am here to write recipes, I will rewrite them. No big deal, just an extra step that I would've thought the blog business would've had figured out by now...
This recipe was a success with my husband and my family. It's adapted from my favorite vegan cookbook.

Apple-Walnut Bread Pudding
Filling:
1 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp each ground cloves, ground nutmeg
1/2 cup milk (dairy, rice, or soy)
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 medium fuji or red delicious apples, cubed
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
Topping:
2/3 cup purified water
1/4 brown sugar
1/4 white sugar
4 tbsp pure maple syrup
4 tbsp butter or vegan margarine

Preheat Oven to 375
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Stir in milk, vanilla, walnuts and apples until well mixed. Spread into a medium baking dish. Set aside. In a saucepan over medium heat, bring water, butter, sugar and maple syrup to a boil. Reduce heat once butter has melted. Pour over the batter in the baking dish. DO NOT STIR! Bake for 45-50 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to set for 5-7 minutes.
Tastes great with Vanilla Ice Cream! Makes approx 6 servings.

I don't guarantee that this is suuper healthy, but it is pretty tasty. Until next time, happy eating!

More Difficult Than I Expected

Yes, so this blogging process is more complicated than I thought. Or, my computing skills are more lacking than I thought. It just took me 10 minutes to figure out how to log-in. I forgot my password and they e-mailed me 3 emails to confirm who I was and so on and so forth. Well, anyhoo, you're not here to read about my log-in trials and tribulations, you're here to hear (or read) about food. And that's what I'm here to write about.
I had a request from a 'follower' to include a recipe that I made one evening. It is a recipe I adapted from a great Vegan Cookbook which I am hopelessly addicted to. I kind of feel like that Juile woman who worked her way through Julia Child's book...only this Vegan Cookbook is much shorter and in many ways, much easier. I will post the recipe with my adaptations so that you too may enjoy it at home. I have to admit, it's pretty tasty!

Indian-inspired Tofu and Peppers

1lb extra firm tofu, cubed
1 med. onion, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
2 med. red, yellow or green bell pepper, chopped (two different colors looks nice!)
1 large tomato, chopped
salt to taste
2 tsp hot chili powder
2 tsp. garam masala spice

In a medium skillet or wok, saute oil, onion and tofu until tofu is slightly browned. Add the peppers, spices and tomatoes. Keep moving the ingredients to keep from sticking. Reduce heat and cook for 6-10 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
Serve over brown rice or with oven-roasted potatoes. Makes 4 servings.

I think this recipe would also be really tasty with broccoli mixed in...haven't tried it, but I think it would be yum!
So, quick success story...I made some nearly-vegan cookies to send to my husband's family in LosAngeles and got good reviews! They were surprised at how moist they were. I think it's because of the egg substitutes I used. It's amazing how well they lend themselves to baking. So many people think that traditional ingredients are best and maybe for some things, they are, but it really is so much more fun just to experiment and see what happend! Well, take care and until next time, good eating!

In the Beginning

Welcome! Thank you for viewing my blog. This is a new endeavor, one that I was very against for a very long time and have now decided might actually be a good idea. I am not at all a computer buff and I actually am not a big fan of writing about myself. I am so happy that you have decided to join me on this interesting new venture! I apologize in advance for typos, self-indulgence and any other nonsense that very well may end up on this blog. Please bear with me and enjoy what I have to offer. I hope that you find something that interests you and piques your taste buds!
The goal of this blog is to provide nutritious and delicious recipes and modifications that are heart-healthy, low fat, vegan or vegetarian and of course, health-conscious. Please take these recipes and ideas and try them in your kitchen. As is my nature, this blog will have some humor, some tears, a bit of sweat and most of all lots of love, all ingredients that make any good meal taste great. So, check back from time to time to see new recipes, kitchen masterpieces (and disasters) and insight as this journey called "Gastromomique de Gabriella" begins...