Wednesday is wheatmeat day!

Wednesdays are wheatmeat days in the BFF household. This is mostly because I'm off from work & have the time to do it. What is wheatmeat? Wheatmeat is what I call a Seitan-like faux meat made from vital wheat gluten and water. Basically you take equal parts vital wheat gluten and water, mix and knead for 5 minutes. Then you can slice or chop it, cook it in a broth with seasonings, and then if you want it chewier you bake it as well. In Sarah Kramer's cookbook La Dolce Vegan, she has different concoctions of broth and seasonings to mimic beef, chicken, turkey, etc.

Faux Beef from La Dolce Vegan

I make a meal reminiscent of the meat and potatoes we ate as kids, but cruelty free of course. Above is the Faux Beef with mashed potatoes and carrots, mushroom gravy, and lima beans. Sometimes you need a little veganized taste of home.

Kale for breakfast? Hells yeah!

I love this time of year when CSA's and farmers markets are overflowing with kale. When I went to pick up my CSA yesterday, there was a mound of kale sitting in the swap box. I asked the women helping me what the deal was with all the kale & she said that people just don't know what to do with it! So I got a couple extra handfuls and left happy as a hippie.

Here's what I had for breakfast...sauteed kale and rice. Yum!

I wash the kale but don't dry it (the water helps steam as it cooks), tear into bite sized pieces and then saute in a little olive oil. I put a lid on the skillet to aid in the steaming and add some sea salt for flavor. Cook over medium until it's at your own desired consistency. Serve over rice & that's breakfast!

I also juice kale and make kale chips. Kale chips are super easy. Wash & dry kale, then tear into bite sized pieces. Spread them out on a baking sheet & drizzle with olive oil and sea salt. You can also add any other spices that inspire you in the moment! Bake at 350 or 400 for 5-10 minutes or longer, depending on how crispy you want them. I usually check them every 5 minutes until they are just right. Yum!

Did you know that one cup of cooked, chopped kale has 2.47g protein, 2.6g fiber, 94mg calcium, 1.17mg iron, 296mg potassium, 23mg magnesium, and 53.3mg vitamin C! Eat more kale!!

Peace, Love, and Greens,
Your BFF

Life is like a box of chocolates...or a jar of green tomatoes.

Hey BFF! Here's what I've been up to: CANNING. My mom and her friend used to can all the time when I was a kid & I loved the grape juice and strawberry preserves they made. I started canning last year when I had an abundance of tomatoes threatening to rot in front of my face. I canned a bunch & used them throughout the year in sauces, chilies, and lots of other recipes. It was awesome! I've also tried my hand at apple butter and pickles. But this year I had an abundance of green beans and green tomatoes! I also got some concord grapes through my CSA, so I made juice! So easy, albeit time consuming. Take a look:

                                                 Dilled Green Beans! I can't wait to try them!

                                                  Concord Grape Juice! Move over Welch's!

And here's what I did with all those grape tomatoes that never turned red. Spicy Pickled Green Tomatoes. I'm so excited to try them! Fresh dill, garlic, and jalapeno...yum!