Red Quinoa and Rice Patty

So simple quinoa patty

I almost always cook quinoa together with another grain in my rice cooker, not sure why but I like the combinations.
 First day:  red quinoa, white rice, celery, onion, and some Mediterranean spices.
I just mixed it with greens and that's it.
Second day:  added some homemade bread crumbs, and an egg, cooked patties in some canola oil
Best eaten fresh, hot and crispy but ...
Third day:  ate the last patty with fruit for lunch - still very good!

My New Food Processor

I got a new food processor for Christmas and it makes short work of so many recipes!  I used to have to make  a can of Garbanzo beans into hummus in two or three batches in my 3 cup processor and I'd have to put up with teary eyes for 15 minutes while I chopped lots of onions.  No more!  Besides hummus I've made Butternut Squash Soup , Cranberry Relish, Black Bean Cakes and Sweet Potato Fries with my new toy already.  I'm having so much fun and I've just begun!  

Sweet Potato Fries before.....

and after baking.  Aren't they perfectly cut??

Butternut Squash Soup

Black Bean Cakes

                                                                           

I'm new at this!

I really enjoy eating nutratarian-ish! I'm finding it easier each day. My new motto is "I may not be plant perfect, but I can be plant strong!" Thanksgiving dinner was a great success, although only 3 of us at dinner, we all loved it. Our favorite was the Vegan stuffing stuffed pumpkin and FRESH cranberry relish, (I picked the cranberries myself) a family recipe from Mary.

Waste

I did great through the long Thanksgiving weekend taking part in traditions but keeping mostly to my commitment to healthy eating.  Now I'm trying to clean out some cupboards making room for some of the appliances I use more often like a rice cooker for all kinds of grains, blender for smoothies, food processor for cutting veggies and pureeing legumes for dips, sauces, dressing (think hummus).  For some reason I'm finding it difficult to throw away the things I have around that I no longer include in my diet, like cake mix.  Should I give the stuff away and contribute to someone else's unhealthy ways (I would NEVER buy cigarettes for a friend!)? Or should I toss it all?  I "baked" a "cup of cake" with a small amount of cake mix in the microwave.  It was a familiar flavor but strangely sweet and artificial tasting.  That, I should have tossed.  What about the things that really aren't JUNK but not on the nutritarian list either.  I guess it's a case by case decision making process.  Anybody want some Lipton Noodles or 12 packages of Jello???

                                                                             

I seem to remember Weight Watcher's having some kind of clever position on this subject...something comparing "wasting" food to the size of one's "waist"...anybody remember this?

Thanksgiving - Then and Now

As I wrote out my Thanksgiving menu for a party of ten I marveled at the differences between this menu and what it would have been just a few years ago.  I'm still compromising for the sake of my (Standard American Diet) company but here are a few notable examples of changes for the better:

                                                                 

                                 I'd like to add  one more veg dish, either fresh steamed Brussels sprouts with a flax meal and grainy mustard dip, or roasted root veggies like beets, carrots and parsnips.  I didn't address dessert here because other people are providing them...but I have ideas!

Stuffed Squash With a Shortcut and Some Questions

Stuffed Acorn Squash

This squash was stuffed with Vigo's Red Beans and Rice which I cooked on the stove top (without adding the butter!)while the squash was baking.  I added a medium bunch of kale, cut up, halfway through the 20 minute cooking time.  If I were making it for company I would probably sprinkle some nuts or grated cheese on top and bake it to brown the top but since I was cooking for myself I just spooned the rice mix into the half acorn squash when it finished baking and ate it with a salad.  It was very tasty, hearty and satisfying.  I added no additional seasoning since the rice package comes fully seasoned. 

 This is an easy dish and looks nice to serve to others but I do have one concern.  When I looked up the nutritional information online it said, "totally fat free" and "0 calories from fat"; however, the label says one serving contains 1 gram of fat, 0 grams sat. fat.  So where are the 9 calories from the 1 gram of fat?  Also, the Ingredients list includes "Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed and Soybean Oil".  What?  Is there a minimum amount required before it has to be listed as part of the Nutrition Facts or Calories?  Now I feel like I've lost one of my favorite quick foods.  I'm going to work on a good combination of seasonings for my beans and rice dishes that does not include hydrogenated oil and all those other additives.

Glazed Acorn Squash for Priscilla

Christmas is to children as the honeymoon is to newlyweds as harvest season is to a vegetarian!

Erich and I cooked dinner for Priscilla's 92nd birthday tonight and I know she loves squash so I made this simple but impressive looking version.

Glazed Acorn Squash

                                                             

Slice the squash in half lengthwise.  Scoop out the seeds and slice into eight wedges.  Spray with oil spray and bake on a cookie sheet covered with non-stick aluminum foil at 400 for about 45 minutes.  Drizzle with a little maple syrup (don't even THINK about using "pancake syrup!) and bake another 15 minutes.
Note:  I ran out of time and ended up microwaving the squash for about 6 minutes thereby reducing the baking time by about 30 minutes.

It looks like Priscilla enjoyed her birthday dinner!
(And it looks like I need to de-clutter my frig door)