Whole Foods VEGAN HOLIDAY DINNER
I work in an elementary school, as most of you know, and schools always have a designated day where they serve a special turkey lunch to the students and staff. Well that day was yesterday. Knowing that I wouldn’t be eating any turkey, but craving the tastings of Thanksgiving already, I ordered the Vegan Holiday Dinner (for two) from Whole Foods. (You can specify how many people you want it for.) I picked it up Tuesday evening and then brought it to work on Wednesday. First off, the amount of food they give you is insane. It’s more like for 4 people!! Clorinda and I ate it for lunch, and there are plenty of leftovers!! I munched on it more at night, and Eric and I are going to have it for dinner again today.
The menu:
- Celebration Field Roast
- Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
- Green Beans with Carrots
- Wild Rice, Pearl Onion and Cranberry Pilaf
- Wild Mushroom Sage Gravy
- Cranberry Mandarin Orange Relish
Yum, yum, and yum! I definitely recommend it…even if it’s not for your real Thanksgiving…it’s a great dinner to enjoy. I ordered it the day before, and they were able to have it for me.
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
I’m definitely lucky to work at such an amazing elementary school with wonderful parents. I never knew they could be this awesome though! This past Wednesday was the first of our monthly luncheons this year. Being vegan usually meant I never really ate at the luncheons. All of last year, I never ate at one of them, besides a couple of salads. I just bring my lunch, like usual, on those days. This time would be different though! Two parents from my classroom were in charge of this luncheon. They emailed me earlier in the week to let me know that nothing was vegan on the menu and asking where they could get me lunch. I, of course, wrote them back saying how sweet and thoughtful they were being, and they absolutely did not need to go get anything special for me. They insisted though, so on Wednesday I enjoyed the most lovely little luncheon ever! Now I know why the teachers are always so excited on luncheon days!!!
I didn’t whip out my camera at the luncheon. I already felt a little singled out with my specialized little lunch. In a good way though!!! Therefore, you get to see what was leftover. 
They got me gazpacho soup, vegetable paella rice, and the yummiest wrap ever which was in a spinach tortilla stuffed with hummus and bulgur. They got everything at Whole Foods, and they commented on how helpful everyone was there to help them get together a vegan lunch.
Now this is what my lunch was in. Isn’t it adorable!?!? One of my mom’s heading the luncheon made it out of a paper bag. I am still so speechless at the thoughtfulness of these moms. This definitely made my week and month!! So if you’re doubting that people will ever come around in supporting you and veganism, think again! 
Scotland-like Saturday
Today it was overcast all day. We were suppose to get some of the storms from Hurricane Ike, but that never really occurred. It was a bit windy all day and wet, but it pretty much just barely drizzled all day. It felt just like a normal Glasgow, Scotland day. So cozy!
I was so excited for breakfast this morning because I was having oat bran for the first time! It was YUMmy! Very similar to oatmeal, but with a unique texture. It’s finer. I made it with water in the microwave. When done, I added cinnamon, pumpkin spice, sliced bananas (I ate the other 1/2 of the banana with almond butter while I was waiting on the oat bran), and vanilla soymilk. It was interesting because I had a packet of Stevia sweeter on the side in case I needed it. When I make quick oatmeal or steel-cut oats, I always have to add a packet of sweeter. However, with the oat bran I did not. I don’t know why this is exactly, but it was plenty sweet on its own and with the added soymilk. I’m a fan! I love how healthy the oat bran is. It seems to have a bit more fiber and protein than oatmeal. It also kept me full for a very long time, which was nice. Sometimes oatmeal can digest so fast that you get hungry pretty soon after eating it.
For lunch I had the Mediterranean combo salad from Whole Foods. It comes with hummus, grape leaves, bulgur salad, olives, tomatoes, and mixed leaves. Awesome! I buy this often.
I had dinner from Sushi Zushi . I forgot to take a picture…so sorry. I had a vegetable roll, rolled maki-style (with the seaweed on the outside), edamame, and miso soup.
Another day in the food life of me (and my family)…
Almond butter waffles make another appearance this week. This time with bananas on top. Drizzled in agave nectar, they were the perfect start to my Thursday.
Mom and I hopped on over to Whole Foods for a lovely, yummy lunch together. We invaded the salad bar. Look at all the yumminess on that plate! Most memorable was the beets, cilantro tofu, curried sweet potatoes, and the dolma. I also had a wee bowl of black bean soup and Lime Perrier to drink.
Madre and me at lunch. Love you Mom!
Dinner tonight was Fettuccine Alfreda (p. 142 in Vegan with a Vengeance). This is really the most awesome recipe. I’ve probably made this sauce half a dozen times. I roasted brussel sprouts in the oven at 430 degrees F for about 20-30 minutes. We like them a little burned and crispy. I sprayed them with a little Pam, fresh black pepper, and Maine Coast organic kelp granules (my favorite low sodium salt alternative) before going in the oven. I think I learned about this product from the amazing vegan cookbook author Dreena Burton. After the brussel sprouts came out of the oven, I baptized them with half of a lemon. Yum! On the side was a mix of every frozen vegetable I had left in my freezer: broccoli, corn, and fava beans. Time to go shopping.
We LOVE a good cookie around these parts. These Super-Charge Me! Cookies from Dreena Burton’s cookbook, Eat, Drink, and Be Vegan, get my vote for all-time favorite vegan cookie. They are so versatile. I have made them several ways. If you’re out of maple syrup, you can sub in agave nectar to make a chewier version. Tonight’s Super-Charge Me! Cookies were made with maple syrup, almond butter, and chocolate chips (along with the oatmeal, and other regular ingredients). The fam wasn’t in the mood for nuts or raisins in their cookies tonight, so I left those babies out. Maybe they’ll make it in the next batch.
