vegan blueberry oatmeal muffins

I woke up with one thing on my mind today - blueberry muffins! I had bought a huge container of blueberries last weekend and I wanted to use them all up before they went bad on me. I got out of bed at 6:30 and got to work! There's something that I love about working in the kitchen early in the morning before anyone else gets up for the day. It's quiet, clean, and I can just be by myself. I also have a love for Sunday mornings - I love getting the newspaper and getting all the coupons and ads out! It has become quite the tradition.

Whenever I make something, I always look at a bunch of recipes, mix them together, and change them to meet my dietary needs. So I wish I could direct you to a recipe I followed, but I really don't follow recipes for the most part.

These are vegan and gluten free! They are also very very delicious!

Over-the-Top Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins (V, GF)

What you'll need:

• 1.25 cups gluten free oats (regular oats would also work just fine)
• 1 cup gluten free flour (I used Bob's Red Mill
• 1/4 cup ground flax seed
• 1/2 cup almond milk (or any milk of your choice)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 tbsp baking soda (you could also use 1 tbsp baking powder, but I cannot due to corn starch)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/3 cup agave nectar (or any sugar/sweetener of your choice)
• 2 cups fresh blueberries

How it's done:

1. Mix the flour, flax seed, oats, and baking soda together in a large bowl
2. Mix the almond milk, applesauce, vanilla, and agave nectar together in another separate bowl
3. Slowly stir the wet and dry ingredients together until they are well blended
4. Fold in the fresh blueberries
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 425 degrees

These were so simple to make! My family said they weren't as sweet as they normally like muffins to be, so if you like things on the sweeter side, I would reccomend adding more agave to the mix. I, however, do not really eat sugar, so sweets send me through the roof!

doesn't it look good?

My breakfast consisted of one muffin, a pink lady apple, and about 1.5 tbsp peanut butter.

I then went to church and came home and enjoyed another muffin and some crackers with hummus! My mom and I went grocery shopping - I swear we have a problem buying food. We always say we "don't really need much" but come home with way too many bags! I just love food too much. We went to Trader Joe's, Costco, and Jewel! Yes, we are multiple grocery store kind of people.

When we came home I made us a quick snack plate as it was almost already 2 pm.

That plate looks really small, but it's actually a huge dinner plate! Spinach salad, steamed broccoli, baby carrots, and a banana on the side!

After we ate, I went over to FH's for a bit to partake in some very exciting work (think bills and check writing), and then we went out for a treat! We went to go see Toy Story 3!

My favorite is Rex - Which character is your favorite?

This movie was beyond great. Does it seem weird that a movie about toys made me cry? I love the Pixar animated movies. They are great for kids, but the humor in it is definitely geared towards adults. If you loved the first two movies, you definitely need to go see the third one. We went and saw it in 3-D, but to be perfectly honest with you, it wasn't worth the money. I might be biased because I really am not a fan of 3-D as it gives me massive headaches. But, there was nothing really "3-D"'ish about the movie. It's just more "enhanced".

When I got home, it was way past my dinner time. I am not someone you want to be around when I am hungry. From the time I was really little, if I was tired or hungry, I was super crabby. There is nothing I hate more than the feeling of being hungry. I become snappy, impatient, and can't think of anything else! Needless to say, I needed something quick and simple to get me through round one of dinner. I threw together some sauteed veggies and brown rice - almost the same combo as Friday night. I did throw some grape tomatoes into the mix this time instead of the stewed tomatoes.

The flavors were awesome. I am loving my basil plant - it has gotten so big! I have to take an updated picture tomorrow. The grape tomatoes were a great idea - they popped in my mouth and were all warm and liquidy. Absolutely perfect!

I hope you all have had a great weekend - it's time for me to get my snack on though and catch up with you all!

Question: What is your disposition like when you are hungry? Are you able to work past it or are you a total crab monster (like me)?

slip 'n slide hall of fame

Brunch was to be had today at FH's aunt and uncle's house. I love going to his family parties - his family is really fun (and kind of crazy at the same time - HI future family!). I brought my Vegan Veggie Loaded Breakfast Casserole. It was a big hit - no one even knew it was tofu! When I brought the leftovers home later, my mom and BIL (brother in law) devoured it (and the vegan zucchini pancakes).

After brunch, I noticed FH's aunt had displayed in her foyer a book which was opened up to a page all about design for brunch! I love her style - this was something not many people would think to do. When I told her I loved how she did that, she replied, "it's the little things chels." When it comes to decorating, I totally agree!

design diva

After we had waited a respectable 30 minutes (haha), everyone got their suits on for some sun time! They don't have a pool, but something even better....

A POND!

I am not a "pond" girl - in fact, I was in it for a while floating in a tube and a fish came up and nipped my butt! To which everyone told me I needed to "keep moving". The pond is so much fun - they have a pier, a little row boat (which FH's cousin Bret manages to sink... a lot), and a floating dock in the middle. The floating dock isn't very stable, so it makes for a fun time throwing people off :)

All the boys (plus a few girls) - FH is second from the right (don't you love the farmer's tan?)


causing trouble....

While the boys were being boys, the girls were doing what we do best - suntanning!

my cousins to be Katie and Mandi (a great friend and soon to be mommy!) - aren't they gorgeous?





Katie and I

Once the pond fever died down a little, a new game was brought out. This game is well known, a joy for children of all ages when the summer sun gets to be too much to bear.

That's right... we brought out the:

SLIP 'N SLIDE!

However, I must warn you... this was not any ordinary slip 'n slide. This was the slip 'n slide to put all other slip 'n slides to shame. I'm talking cushioned, inflatable landing strips, extended tarps, dish soap, and multiple hoses.

Slip 'n slide

action shot of one of the little girls

Bret had a mishap after this ride.

dish soap in the eye - it's just one of the many risks you have to take when embarking on such a dangerous adventure.


Katie found, however, that while sliding down, skin creates a lot of friction on the slip 'n slide. Katie likes to travel fast and did not enjoy being weighed down by such frivolous things such as skin and bathing suits. Which is why Katie came up with an ingenious idea:

Oh yes, that would be a plastic suit - the dish soap works a lot better with this!

All in all, it was a fun time!

After we left there, I had dinner with my family. I made Emily's Vegan Bean Burgers for my mom and me. They were so delicious! I wrapped mine in lettuce leaves (gluten free sandwich!). We also had a potato bomb - does anyone know what this is? If not, I can post a recipe! - asparagus, and a salad. I ate... and ate... and ate! I was hungry after all that afternoon activity!

Now I am relaxing, very tired, and ready to sleep!

Question: What is a summer activity (like the slip 'n slide) you remember doing when you were a kid?

vegan veggie-loaded breakfast casserole

The Goods

• 1 package firm or extra firm tofu
• 1/2 cup almond milk (or any lactose free milk)
• veggies of your choice: I used onion, green pepper, garlic, mushrooms, and broccoli
• garlic, pepper, and salt to taste

How it's Done

1. Spritz a large frying pan with olive oil or cooking spray of choice
2. After chopping vegetables, saute the vegetables over medium high heat.
3. Drain your package of tofu, chop the block of tofu in two pieces, and press dry (in between towels/paper towels with heavy books on the top for 15 minutes see See Emily's pictures for a better understanding if you are lost
4. Crumble tofu with hands into a blender/food processor. Add the almond milk and puree until smooth.
5. Combine your tofu mixture with cooked vegetables in an 8x8 pan.
6. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and bake for 25-30 minutes
7. Enjoy! I served mine with salsa, but it is delicious by itself!

the tofu in the blender

main event

I thought this was great, but I think I will add some nutritional yeast next time to get that "cheesy" flavor! I brought this to a brunch - it was a big hit and no one knew it was tofu until I told them. Some still don't nkow... shhhhhh!

vegan zucchini pancakes

The Goods:

• 1 cup flour (Bob's Red Mill gluten free)
• 1.5 tsp baking soda
• 1.5 tsp agave
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 cups zucchini, grated
• 3 flax eggs (3 tbsp flax & 9 tbsp water mixed together - let sit for 2 minutes)
• garlic, salt, and pepper to taste

How it's Done:

1. Mix dry ingredients together (flour, baking soda, salt, garlic, pepper, salt)
2. Mix "wet ingredients" (zucchini, flax eggs, salt)
3. Preheat griddle to medium heat (spray with olive oil or cooking spray first)
4. Drop 1/4 cup servings onto griddle. Cook approximately 3-4 minutes before flipping (you will see browning around the edges). Cook another 2-3 minutes.
5. Voila! Enjoy with sour cream (if you're not lactose or vegan), applesauce, or ketchup!
   

They are just itching to be mixed.

flax eggs

zucchini grater - I used about 1.5 HUGE zucchinis to get 3 cups

Feeling the heat

All done and ready to be eaten!

I loved the color of this pancake! Tiny flax seed meal and zucchini can be seen. Awesome.

"almost fallafel" chickpea balls

You will most definitely want to keep reading if you would like to find out how to go from this:

can of chickpeas

to THIS:

"almost fallafel" chickpea balls with tahini sauce drizzle

"almost fallafel" chickpea balls

• 1 can chickpeas drained (reserve about 1-2 tbsp liquid)
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp flour (I used all purpose GF)
• 2 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• cumin & pepper to taste

1. Drain the chickpeas, but set aside about 1-2 tbsp of the liquid. Mash your chickpeas with a potato masher - or you may use your food processor to get them more smooth.
2. Chop your onion and garlic, add all of your spices
3. Add the reserved liquid and flour
4. Form into approximately 10 balls
5. Spritz your frying pan with olive oil - preheat pan to medium heat
6. Cook chickpea balls until brown on all sides (kind of like making meatballs on the stove top)
7. serve with tahini sauce drizzle

Tahini Sauce Drizzle

• 1 tbsp. tahini
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• approximately 3 tbsp water (just enough to thin it out to your liking)
• lots of garlic and pepper

Combine all ingredients and enjoy served over "almost fallafel" chickpea balls.

chopped onion


pre-cooked fallafel balls

money shot

browning evenly on all sides

You know these bad boys are screaming EAT ME!

"almost fallafel" chickpea balls served with a side salad and balsamic vinaigrette

If you have never tried capers, I suggest going and getting some.

This was a great alternative for someone (like me) who cannot have "regular" fallafel. I really enjoyed EVERYTHING about this lunch. It was so pretty - fresh ingredients and so many colors!

Garage saling was an epic fail - I try really hard to get into garage sales, but I just can't ever bring myself to buy anything. I did, however, find blank cards from Target for fifty cents! I write a lot of cards - thank yous, notes to students, friends, etc. - so those will come in handy! I tried sitting outside this afternoon, but it is just far too hot outside. Guess it's an inside day for me!

I am going to a Father's Day brunch on Sunday - does anyone have a good vegan breakfast casserole I could bring? and What are you getting your dad for Father's Day?