Woman in Real Life

I am holding off on turning on the furnace for as long as I can. I find it so drying to my skin. We are making ample use of the fireplace in the meantime, but I confess it's sometimes a wee bit chilly around here.

Making soup, stew, chili and fresh warm baked goods helps. I predict that Isa Does It is going to help me get through the winter. There are so many great recipes for cozy-looking vegan comfort foods. Like this Down-Home Curry With Tofu & Broccoli, above. As Isa says in the intro to the recipe, it's "a homey, filling, stick-to-your-ribs meal that's easy enough to throw together anytime the feeling strikes you." I could go for some of those savoury tofu chunks right about now.


This week I also made Isa's Lentil-A-Roni again. I think my family is growing tired of it, but I admit I don't really care. It's so good! And I'm cooking, so there. I bought a big bag of green beans at Costco - they make for an easy side dish - just steam or boil briefly and top with olive oil, vinegar and salt.


One day my husband offered to make minestrone. "Sounds good to me," I said. (That's what I say anytime I don't have to cook.) I was expecting minestrone soup, but got something that I thought looked more like pasta fagioli. But my husband said that's how his mother makes minestrone. Well, whatever it was, it tasted good. And who am I to argue? I am a mangiacake after all!


I posted my recipe for Banana Ginger Medjool Date Mini Loaves recently. Then I made them again. This time with chocolate chips. They come out so nice - warm and tasty - they are gone within the day around here. Then I just need to whip up some more.


I will soon be posting have posted my recipe here for Vegan Ginger Chocolate Chip Scones too. I made more of those this week too. They are best served warm. So you have to eat them all the first day. What a shame.


On Monday I made a vegan apple pie, using crust and filling recipes from the first vegan cookbook I ever purchased, How It All Vegan!: Irresistible Recipes for an Animal-Free Diet. I still turn to this cookbook regularly. It's a great starter cookbook for new vegetarians.

I am no expert in pie baking. In fact, I can't remember the last time I made a pie. I was inspired to make a pie this week after watching James Brolin make a peach pie for Kate Winslet in Labor Day. There's something so appealing about a man making you a pie, isn't there? (Even if he is a convicted felon.)

Anyway, this vegan apple pie turned out pretty darn good for this inexperienced pie maker. The bottom was cooked (something I had worried wouldn't happen) and the filling was tasty. I would put a smidge more salt in the dough next time though. (Let's hope there's a next time.)

Do you like to make pies? Any pie-baking tips?



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