Beans and Peanut Butter Sauce

B"H

Monday afternoon, a few hours before I was scheduled to go over to my cousins for the Pesah Seder (the traditional/ritual meal of Passover evening) I decided I needed one more "dish" to bring with me (since I am a vegan on a very strict diet, I generally bring my own food wherever I go). I decided to make something with beans, but what should I do with the beans? (unlike most Ashkenazic Jews (Jews whose families originated in Northern and Eastern Europe), I am permitted to eat beans, rice, corn, peanuts, etc. (called "kitniyot") on Pesah).

I looked around and saw a jar of peanut butter and decided to make a peanut butter sauce.

I started with 2 tablespoons (1/8 cup) each of pinto, black, garbanzo, adzuki and kidney beans. I soaked them (well, the first time I did the "quick soak" -- boil them up and then turn off the flame and let them sit for at least an hour), then added 1/4 cup wild rice and 2 tablespoons black lentils. I added my favorite spices-- a teaspoon of each -- turmeric, paprika, coriander, cumin -- and a squeeze of spicy brown mustard and cooked it for 45 minutes (and a bit more until all the water was absorbed). While the beans were cooking, I sauteed a red onion (I sliced it into thin strips) and some frozen shiitake mushrooms. Then I added 1/4 cup of natural (no added sugar or fat, etc) peanut butter, 1/2 cup unsweetened almond "milk", a bit of stevia (for sweetness) and 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar and stirred it together until it's all blended.

When the beans were ready, I added the sauce and mixed well.

I think the peanut butter sauce added a certain je ne sais quoi to the bean dish. I actually shared it with some friends and they both liked it, too.

Compugraph Designs web site

Check out my other blogs:

Israel and it's Place in the World
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Jewish Wedding Customs
Going to a Wedding Single
Strong Biblical Women
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Strong Biblical Women Part 3
Ruth and Naomi
Strong Biblical Women 5: Tamar -- Mother of Kings
Strong Biblical Women 6: Yocheved -- Mother of Moshe (Moses)
Strong Biblical Women 7: Miriam
Why Be Vegetarian
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 1
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Rosh Hashana
Quick Vegan Cooking
Creating new recipes from old
Hanuka
About the Jewish Calendar
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Marshall's and Soup

ב"ה

I love being thinner. Granted, it takes a LOT of hard work (mostly in the cooking area), but I love going shopping for clothing now. Of course, I would like it a lot more if I had more money to spend, but I digress.....

So I went to a local strip mall because I needed a new sandwich machine (the one I got as a gift has "given up the ghost" after daily use for the past few months -- I discovered "Food for Life" sprouted corn tortillas and I've been making sandwiches using two tortillas -- one on the bottom and one on the top -- and Dr. Prager veggie burgers -- I like Tex-Mex and Bombay flavors -- I add any or all of the following: my own vinaigrette [balsamic vinegar, spicy brown mustard and stevia to taste]; frozen shiitake mushrooms; shredded carrots; vegan cheddar cheese; kale*; a slice of tofurky "lunch meat style" vegan "meat" and I top with the second tortilla and cook in the sandwich machine for 20 minutes -- yum!) -- there's a Target there and that's where the original machine came from -- and on my way over to the Target, I got "waylaid" by the Marshall's (I've been wanting to check it out since I got to size 12 and now that I'm even wearing some size 10s and even the occasional 8 -- OMG, in High School I wore a 14-16! -- so this was the day....)

So I found myself at the "clearance" rack (I've always said if I were even at a singles event and a guy would come over to me and ask me my "sign", I'd answer "clearance -- 70% off"), pulling all sorts of things off to try on. I ended up with 10 items (coincidentally the max they allow in the "fitting room") of various sizes ranging from 8 to 12. Most of the tops were too short (they did fit but were impractical), the two pairs of size 10 jeans fit, but the legs were made for someone about 6 inches taller than Julia Child (who was 6 feet tall), so, despite the fact that I loved them and they were $3 and $5, I decided that hemming jeans wasn't on my schedule (and since they were flare legged, cuffs were out of the question). I ended up with an Anne Klein size 10 black skirt (I'm DESPERATE for skirts, particularly black skirts -- ladies, do you agree that you can never have too many black skirts???) that cost $5 (no tax in our state).

I got out of the "fitting room" and started telling the woman there (a bit on the chubby side) that I needed new clothes because I had lost some weight and now was wearing a size I didn't even fit into in High School (please don't ask how many years ago that was -- suffice to say it was a long time ago). So she asked me how I did it. I told her about regulating my adrenals (and with it, my blood sugar) with nutrient supplements and then I told her that soups are good -- particularly if you make your own without salt (or with only a bit of salt). I told her my "quickie" soup recipe.....

I take 1/8 cup each (two tablespoons or a coffee measure) of three different kinds of lentils (black, green/brown and red), sometimes also split peas, add water and spices (I like spicy brown mustard, turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala, etc.) cook for a while, then add two bags mixed vegetables (different styles are nice -- I just did one today with plain carrots, corn and string beans and another called "California mix" with cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, etc.) and sometimes I add a package of either frozen chopped spinach or frozen butternut squash. It makes a great soup and it's a minimum of work (no chopping veggies, no soaking beans)....

Try it yourself with different kinds of mixed veggies or quick cooking legumes and your own spice mix. And got easy on the salt.

* I buy fresh (organic) kale and I rinse each leaf in a mixture of vinegar and cold water, then rinse in running water, then I shred the kale in the food processor, put the shredded kale in snack baggies (zip bags) and put them in the freezer so I can add kale to soup, sauteed veggies, and my sandwiches.

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Israel and it's Place in the World
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Jewish Wedding Customs
Going to a Wedding Single
Strong Biblical Women
Strong Biblical Women 2
Strong Biblical Women Part 3
Ruth and Naomi
Strong Biblical Women 5: Tamar -- Mother of Kings
Strong Biblical Women 6: Yocheved -- Mother of Moshe (Moses)
Strong Biblical Women 7: Miriam
Why Be Vegetarian
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 1
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 2
Rosh Hashana
Quick Vegan Cooking
Creating new recipes from old
Hanuka
About the Jewish Calendar
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Cholent

B"H

My father goes down to the Kosher store every Thursday to buy (dare I "speak" the words) meat and poultry for Shabbat dinner (which he and my mother begin cooking on Thursday night). (I mostly like to do my cooking on Wednesday, but I usually make my cholent (a bean and barley dish) on Thursday.)

So today, my father ordered chopped turkey but got distracted and forgot to get the turkey. So I volunteered to walk all the way down the block (I needed the steps -- I try to hit 12,000 steps a day) to get it for them.

While I was there, I saw the husband of a friend and we got to talking about my cholent. Someone was standing on line and we started talking about how I make my vegan cholent.

So I started telling her how I make it and she took it down on a piece of paper (was it the back of an envelope??? Shades of the mythology of the Gettysburg Address!). In any case, when I got home, I remembered I forgot to tell her one thing (If you're reading this, I forgot to tell you to add almonds also to the soaking beans)....

Ok, so here is how I do it. I have 5 different beans I really like that are relatively easy to get. I also use barley (not pearled barley -- I get unprocessed barley from the local health food store) and almonds and (black) lentils and wild rice. I take 1/8 cup (2 Tablespoons) each of the 5 beans (black beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, adzuki beans (which I also get at the health food store) and almonds along with 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) barley. I try as much as possible to get organic. I take all the beans and barley I measure out, put it in my slow cooker and cover it all with cold water and I soak it either overnight or for about 6 hours.

I then drain the beans, add 2 tablespoons each of the lentils and wild rice, cover the beans, etc., with water, add my favorite spices (which are -- 1 teaspoon each turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala, paprika, and sometimes chili powder -- I also add 2 teaspoons brown mustard seed when I have it -- and a generous squirt of spicy brown mustard -- I also add grated fresh ginger -- I take a piece of ginger about an inch or so wide and grate it in) and turn the dial on "hi" until the water boils. Then I turn it down to "keep warm", add veggies (that I saute Wednesday -- onions -- I like red onion -- shiitake mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, carrots (I use shredded carrots) whatever you like) and leave it overnight.

In the morning, I turn the dial to "hi" again and make up the "kugel" -- flour and water (right now, I can't eat wheat, so I use spelt and oat flour or sprouted wheat flour -- which I can eat) -- I personally like my "kugel" really stiff (I use about 1/2 cup flour and 1/4-3/8 cup water) but my Mom likes hers loose, so she makes it more like cake batter -- mine is more like cookie cutter cookie dough. I make the "kugel" into small balls and drop them into the boiling cholent, cover the pot again, and turn the dial back down to "keep warm".

If I start the bean soaking Thursday morning, add the "kugel" Friday morning, it generally tastes perfect by Shabbat lunch.

B'Tai'avon! (that's Hebrew for "bon appetit!")

I'd love to hear about your variations in the comments......


Compugraph Designs web site

Check out my other blogs:

Israel and it's Place in the World
Jewish Singles
Strong Jewish Women

Check out my squidoo lenses (articles):

Jewish Wedding Customs
Going to a Wedding Single
Strong Biblical Women
Strong Biblical Women 2
Strong Biblical Women Part 3
Ruth and Naomi
Strong Biblical Women 5: Tamar -- Mother of Kings
Strong Biblical Women 6: Yocheved -- Mother of Moshe (Moses)
Strong Biblical Women 7: Miriam
Why Be Vegetarian
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 1
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 2
Rosh Hashana
Quick Vegan Cooking
Creating new recipes from old
Hanuka
About the Jewish Calendar
Witches and Morality
Presidential Trivia Quiz
Christmas and the Jewish Single
Math Hints 1 -- Adding Fractions
Presidents1: George Washington
Passover: Holiday of Freedom
John and John Quincy Adams
Television Trivia Quiz
Jewish Perspective of G-d
Purim, Esther et al
Being an internet small business owner
Why I'm a Red Sox fan
Pythagorean Theorem
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Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb?
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Carnie Wilson Unstapled

B"H

I've been watching the new show on GSN "Carnie Wilson Unstapled". It's sort of like watching a train wreck. But I'm finding it fascinating.

It reminds me that everyone has a set of problems that other people who find easy to solve (and, perhaps, she would find my issues easy to deal with.... or not????)

I've been dealing with weight issues since High School. Before he passed away, one of my HS teachers was in the local nursing home and I went to visit him -- our visit ended when he needed to go to lunch and I walked him to the cafeteria. As he turned to walk in, he turned to me and said, "you were chubby in HS".

So I have been fighting this fight for a long time. But each step of the way, I've had small successes. I first went high fiber, then vegetarian, then low fat, then vegan -- recently, I went on a diet that my alternative medical practitioner put me on and started treating my adrenals with nutrient supplements.

Along to way, I discovered a few things -- firstly, I discovered that I love sweets and if I try to cut them out of my diet, I will have crazy cravings. So I discovered stevia, a natural no-calorie sweetener. I have used it to make cakes, cookies, biscotti, puddings (mostly tapioca), iced herbal teas, even vegan "gello" using herbal tea and agar. I've also made Popsicles, sweet and sour dishes, pancakes (and a strawberry "syrup" to go with them), cereal (hot and cold), even chocolate. I also use whole grain flours (including sprouted grain wheat -- I'm still not allowed regular wheat or rye, but I'm finally allowed spelt and oats! -- so this Pesah -- Passover -- I can have spelt matza.....)....

Secondly, I discovered that it's easier to lose weight if I exercise (I love walking and I keep track with a pedometer -- I aim for 12,000 steps a day, which I often get -- I usually average my steps for Sunday through Thursday (I can't wear the pedometer on Shabbat -- the Sabbath -- so Friday and Saturday, I don't have accurate readings for my steps, so I don't count them in the average, though I do record them). In my little log book I record my morning blood sugar (Sunday through Friday) and my morning weight and fat percentage, water percentage and bone percentage (per my scale -- also Sunday through Friday). This past week, I averaged over 14,000 steps for the five days and mos of the time recently, I've been keeping my blood sugar under 110.

I discovered that if I walk when I'm talking on the phone or when I'm watching Jeopardy (often twice a day on weekdays) and Millionaire, that helps me reach my step goal (also walking around town, or around the block, or going to the gym).

In the past XX years (my weight loss odyssey):

I lost about 30 pounds from my heaviest point in my 20s until my sister's wedding in my early 30s (and anther 10 pounds before my brother's wedding about 6 months later).

I lost another 30 or 40 pounds by the time I was re-diagnosed with diabetes about 8 years ago.

I lost another 30-35 pounds in the past almost 2 years.

I'd like to lost another 10 pounds, but I won't make myself crazy doing that -- just keeping from gaining weight right now will be enough.

This is one of the issues Carnie is dealing with. The other issue is that she spends as much money as she makes (considering she's making the Newlywed Game and has a few other enterprises, this is a considerable accomplishment.

I've spent the majority of my life not getting a regular paycheck. As a matter of fact, despite the fact that I'm a graphic artist, a writer and a tutor, I've been a programmer, a technical writer, a teacher (computers, wood shop and Hebrew school), I worked several summers for the state of NJ employment office, administrative assistant for several concerns (including office manager for a psychology group), and a zillion other jobs... but I've never been able to support myself, and except for 2 years, I never made a salary that anyone would consider reasonable, never even near the median income in this country.

So I look at Carnie's spending -- and I think to myself how much easier things would be for her if she bought things that weren't quite so overpriced. It's sort of like Carrie Bradshaw, Sara Jessica Parker's role on Sex and the City. Carrie was a shoe buff -- there was one episode where she mentions having 100 or so pairs of shoes. That part didn't faze me, since I probably have close to that many. But I spend an average of less than $10 a pair of shoes. Carrie said she averaged $300 a pair. Miranda, her friend, said, "do you realize how much that is?" so Carrie said, "$3,000?" and Miranda said, "No, $30,000!!!". If I do have 100 pairs of shoes, they probably total less than $1,000 and I've been collecting them over the course of several years. That's what Carnie spent on one diaper bag.

So, if Carnie ever does read this -- Carnie -- call me, I could help you with your issues (and maybe you could help with mine??? With your name, maybe more people would buy my designs -- the ones I sell on Cafe Press and Zazzle)

And if you get a chance, you may want to check out my chocolate recipe -- for each square of 99% cocoa baker's chocolate (I melt in a double boiler) I add 1/8 cup each of cacao nibs and mixed chopped nuts and enough stevia to equal 1 cup of sugar (2 teaspoons of the one I use) and 1 teaspoon erythritol (another natural no-calorie sweetener) -- I mix well and drop it by 1/2 tablespoons on parchment paper on a cookie sheet, and put it in the refrigerator until it sets and I keep them in a container in the refrigerator.

Compugraph Designs web site

Check out my other blogs:

Israel and it's Place in the World
Jewish Singles
Strong Jewish Women

Check out my squidoo lenses (articles):

Jewish Wedding Customs
Going to a Wedding Single
Strong Biblical Women
Strong Biblical Women 2
Strong Biblical Women Part 3
Ruth and Naomi
Strong Biblical Women 5: Tamar -- Mother of Kings
Strong Biblical Women 6: Yocheved -- Mother of Moshe (Moses)
Strong Biblical Women 7: Miriam
Why Be Vegetarian
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 1
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 2
Rosh Hashana
Quick Vegan Cooking
Creating new recipes from old
Hanuka
About the Jewish Calendar
Witches and Morality
Presidential Trivia Quiz
Christmas and the Jewish Single
Math Hints 1 -- Adding Fractions
Presidents1: George Washington
Passover: Holiday of Freedom
John and John Quincy Adams
Television Trivia Quiz
Jewish Perspective of G-d
Purim, Esther et al
Being an internet small business owner
Why I'm a Red Sox fan
Pythagorean Theorem
My Blogs
Top 10 Presidents
Bottom 10 Presidents
How Can We Appeal to G-d for Forgiveness?
Math Tips 2
Searching for a Fashion Partner
Math Hints 3
One Actor, Two Shows (TV Quiz)
Presidential Tidbits
Why Should anyone hire Me?
Eat a Healthy Breakfast
My experience on Jeopardy
Project:Runway and how it got me excited about designing again
Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb?
My Vocational Experiences
Check out my Stress Release Mix list

Chocolate!!!!!

B"H

A few months ago, I went down to Princeton to Whole Foods -- a store I love. It amazes me sometimes how many new and wonderful foods I find there. The last time I was there, I found a chocolate bar -- a baking chocolate that is parve (many of the baking chocolates are certified dairy even if there are no dairy ingredients -- if they're made on dairy equipment), 99% cocoa and natural. I bought it and checked it out with my alternative medical practitioner (he checks foods to see how my body reacts to them and the food that works with my body I can eat) and he said I could eat it.

I took the chocolate and melted it, added 2 tablespoons each mixed chopped nuts and cacao nibs (chopped cacao beans) and two teaspoons (equivalent to about 1 cup of sugar) of stevia. Then I took the mixture by the 1/2 tablespoon and put them on a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet. I then put the cookie sheet in the refrigerator and when the chocolate solidifies I take it off the parchment and put it in a plastic container and keep them in the refrigerator. I love them. (I had to find the baker's chocolate on the 'net to buy it again -- it just came today so I could make more....). This time I added a bit of erythritol to help with the sweetness (the chocolate is a bit on the bitter side) and I think it helped.

Compugraph Designs web site

Check out my other blogs:

Israel and it's Place in the World
Jewish Singles
Strong Jewish Women

Check out my squidoo lenses (articles):

Jewish Wedding Customs
Going to a Wedding Single
Strong Biblical Women
Strong Biblical Women 2
Strong Biblical Women Part 3
Ruth and Naomi
Strong Biblical Women 5: Tamar -- Mother of Kings
Strong Biblical Women 6: Yocheved -- Mother of Moshe (Moses)
Strong Biblical Women 7: Miriam
Why Be Vegetarian
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 1
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 2
Rosh Hashana
Quick Vegan Cooking
Creating new recipes from old
Hanuka
About the Jewish Calendar
Witches and Morality
Presidential Trivia Quiz
Christmas and the Jewish Single
Math Hints 1 -- Adding Fractions
Presidents1: George Washington
Passover: Holiday of Freedom
John and John Quincy Adams
Television Trivia Quiz
Jewish Perspective of G-d
Purim, Esther et al
Being an internet small business owner
Why I'm a Red Sox fan
Pythagorean Theorem
My Blogs
Top 10 Presidents
Bottom 10 Presidents
How Can We Appeal to G-d for Forgiveness?
Math Tips 2
Searching for a Fashion Partner
Math Hints 3
One Actor, Two Shows (TV Quiz)
Presidential Tidbits
Why Should anyone hire Me?
Eat a Healthy Breakfast
My experience on Jeopardy
Project:Runway and how it got me excited about designing again
Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb?
My Vocational Experiences
Check out my Stress Release Mix list

My Version of Israeli Salad

B"H

I have always loved Israeli salad, but when I'm making it for myself, I generally want more than the simple tomatoes and cucumber Israeli salad. And, recently, I decided to try eliminating nightshades from my diet (some minor aches and pains have me wondering about arthritis, so I am trying it out).

So I'm now making my own version of Israeli Salad -- I chop up a big cucumber and one avocado. To that I add some shredded carrots (I get them pre-shredded -- orange and yellow carrots) and then I "dress" it with 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar [note added 1/7/2010 -- I bought some balsamic vinegar yesterday and it tastes even better than that cider vinegar], a few squeezes of spicy brown mustard (the only kind of mustard I like) and a bit of stevia (for a bit of sweetness).

I then mix the entire thing and allow the flavors to meld. This is a good way to get veggies into your diet.

Check out my other blogs:

Jewish Singles
Strong Jewish Women
Everything Goes
Israel and its Place in the World
Jewish Sandwich

Check out my squidoo lenses:

Eat a Healthy BreakfastWhy Be Vegetarian
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 1
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 2
Strong Biblical Women
Strong Biblical Women 2
Strong Biblical Women Part 3
Ruth and Naomi
Strong Biblical Women 5: Tamar -- Mother of Kings
Strong Biblical Women 6: Yocheved -- Mother of Moshe (Moses)
Strong Biblical Women 7: Miriam
Rosh Hashana
Quick Vegan Cooking
Creating new recipes from old
Hanuka
About the Jewish Calendar
Witches and Morality
Presidential Trivia Quiz
Christmas and the Jewish Single
Math Hints 1 -- Adding Fractions
Presidents1: George Washington
Passover: Holiday of Freedom
John and John Quincy Adams
Television Trivia Quiz
Jewish Perspective of G-d
Purim, Esther et al
Being an internet small business owner
Why I'm a Red Sox fan
Pythagorean Theorem
My Blogs
Top 10 Presidents
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How Can We Appeal to G-d for Forgiveness?
Math Tips 2
Searching for a Fashion Partner
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My experience on Jeopardy
Project:Runway and how it got me excited about designing again
Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb?
My Vocational Experiences
Check out my Stress Release Mix list

Chocolate "Cheese" (Tofu) Cake

B"H

I have a subscription to Prevention magazine. I generally read it for the health articles (what can I say? I'm addicted to reading health information). But I also check out the recipes. Occasionally I'll find a recipe I can use as is, but more often I find recipes that will work very nicely with my current dietary needs if only I switch off a few ingredients.

I ran across just such a recipe in one of the recent issues. It's called "Triple Chocolate Cheesecake" (link to it here). In it are several ingredients I don't eat:

• Chocolate wafer cookies
  
• 50-50 butter blend spread
  
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips
  
• Cream cheese
  
• Neufchatel cheese
  
• Sugar
  
• Eggs
  

I substituted for a few of them, just decided to leave out others. For the wafer cookies (which are to be crushed) I used 3 ounces each of cacao nibs and Ezekiel cereal. I put the nibs and cereal into the food processor with about a teaspoon of stevia (the stevia I use, a teaspoon is the sweetness of about 1/3-1/2 cup of sugar). Instead of the butter blend, I used 1/2 cup pumpkin puree. This adds beta carotene with a minimum of calories. I added the pumpkin and processed with the crumbs. I lined an 8" X 8" pan with parchment paper and spread the nib/cereal/pumpkin mixture on the bottom of the pan. I baked it in the oven at 245 degrees for about 20 minutes.

For the chips, I substituted 1 square of unsweetened baking chocolate (the one I used is 99% cocoa). I melted the square of chocolate in a double boiler. I put a container of tofu (which I substituted for the cream cheese) in the food processor with 2 teaspoons of stevia and 1 Tablespoon non alcohol organic vanilla. I started processing and when the chocolate was melted, I poured it in while the tofu was processing. I poured the mixture over the crust and baked at 245 for about 40 minutes (until set).

Check out my other blogs:

Jewish Singles
Strong Jewish Women
Everything Goes
Israel and its Place in the World
Jewish Sandwich

Check out my squidoo lenses:

Eat a Healthy BreakfastWhy Be Vegetarian
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 1
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 2
Strong Biblical Women
Strong Biblical Women 2
Strong Biblical Women Part 3
Ruth and Naomi
Strong Biblical Women 5: Tamar -- Mother of Kings
Strong Biblical Women 6: Yocheved -- Mother of Moshe (Moses)
Strong Biblical Women 7: Miriam
Rosh Hashana
Quick Vegan Cooking
Creating new recipes from old
Hanuka
About the Jewish Calendar
Witches and Morality
Presidential Trivia Quiz
Christmas and the Jewish Single
Math Hints 1 -- Adding Fractions
Presidents1: George Washington
Passover: Holiday of Freedom
John and John Quincy Adams
Television Trivia Quiz
Jewish Perspective of G-d
Purim, Esther et al
Being an internet small business owner
Why I'm a Red Sox fan
Pythagorean Theorem
My Blogs
Top 10 Presidents
Bottom 10 Presidents
How Can We Appeal to G-d for Forgiveness?
Math Tips 2
Searching for a Fashion Partner
Math Hints 3
One Actor, Two Shows (TV Quiz)
Presidential Tidbits
Why Should anyone hire Me?
My experience on Jeopardy
Project:Runway and how it got me excited about designing again
Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb?
My Vocational Experiences
Check out my Stress Release Mix list