Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Houston, I May Have a Problem...

I've developed a small addiction to scarves. 

I don't like have to buy one whenever I see scarves. Nor do I sneak them into the house or spend the grocery money on them. 

But slowly, my collection has grown. 

Do you see a theme?

  What adult woman needs 5 polka dot scarves?  

Clearly, me! 

In my defense...polka dots make me happy. 

Scraps and Snippets ~ Gardein Beefless Slider Review

 I went on and on about how excited I was that Target carried Gardein products a couple weeks ago. Last night was a night that I needed to toss together a quick meal and I had purchased Gardein's Beefless Sliders for just one of those nights. 

I panfried all four sliders in a splash of avocado oil and heated the buns. 

I then topped mine with mustard and organic lettuce. I served these with a side of steamed organic broccoli sprinkled with nutritional yeast and sea salt. Yum. 

Four hours later, after eating two sliders and the broccoli I was still feeling full and satisfied. Definitely a stick to your ribs meal. The serving size is one little burger but that one packs 9 grams of protein and 150 calories. So with two, I had a 400 calorie meal that left me completely satisfied. I don't know that the burgers would "fool" a meaty hamburger fan. However, I was impressed with the texture (that's a biggie for me, I hate a patty that mushes when you bite into it) and Rob liked them as well and said I should definitely buy them again. He goes flexitarian when he chooses so can order whatever he feels like at restaurants....so that's some high praise since they satisfied his meat cravings. Besides the great texture (more like a flatter pre made style patty than a thick burger) a nice charcoaly flavor makes the burgers taste like the real deal to my palate. 

Bottom line? When you need a quick meal that hits the spot and stays with you, this is a great option. I love that the products are GMO free. And even though they are processed most of the ingredients are recognizable and explained. Two thumbs up. And at under $5.00 a box providing two to four meals, it's bargain fast food. 

Scraps and Snippets ~ Cookie Dough Cheesecake Mousse

 

Cookie Dough Cheesecake Mousse

1 batch of coconut whipped cream
3 TBSP flour
rounded ¼ cup of brown sugar
rounded ¼ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon of vanilla
¼ cup of chocolate chips 

1 - 8 ounce container of vegan cream cheese (I used Trader Joe's)

Mix cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla and salt together. Set aside.

Prepare coconut whipped cream. 1 chilled can of full fat coconut milk (I love Trader Joe's). Scrape off the solid, discard or use the water for another purpose. Whip the solid for several minutes until fluffy, scraping as needed. Add 2 TBSP of powdered sugar. When the consistency of whipped cream fold into the cream cheese mixture and chocolate chips. Chill overnight. Use small cookies, apple or banana slices or pretzels to scoop the dip. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Cutie Patooties

Cutest dog pictures.

http://www.boredpanda.com/dog-pitbull-photobooth-photos-lynn-terry

http://www.dogshaming.com/2014/03/sarge-in-trouble-with-the-sergeants/

http://www.dogshaming.com/2014/03/bad-lassie/  I used to have a LOVE/HATE relationship with Lassie. When I was a wee lass my parents thought Lassie was my favorite show. Instead my five year old self was an anxious tangle of emotional angst...Lassie and all his friends were in constant peril. But this made me laugh. I'm over the early childhood Lassie trauma.

http://www.dogshaming.com/2014/02/grrreat/

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Squirrel Circus...

Rob set up a bird feeding station this winter. And man, that sucker gets some action. Sometimes not a feathery friend is in sight, others it's a scene from the movie, The Birds.  

However, this particular expose with the grainy pictures etc. was shot undercover during a bold assault on the BIRD smorgasbord. 

Rob assumed that the tipped, emptied feeder issues were the work of a few raccoons he's seen gorging on the spilled seeds after dark. 

Today, I noticed a swinging bird feeder in my peripheral vision. And what I saw was a circus squirrel working his magic. He hung by two paws and scarfed all he could get into his greedy mouth. Scaling the smooth metal bar was easy peasy and he had access to three different "plates"  At one point there was a Cedar Waxwing and male Cardinal waiting in line for the buffet. 

It's a cold winter and the little sucker worked for it. Sigh. Guess we'll just feed the neighborhood. 

Scraps and Snippets ~ Roasted Veggie Stew

 I had some cauliflower puree on hand, a bunch of green onions thinking about going to the bad place, two stems of fresh rosemary and some not so prime potatoes = dinner inspiration. 

Roasted Vegetable Stew

5 - 6 potatoes, chopped

2-3 carrots, chopped

2 stalks celery, diced

1 med onion diced (or green onion bulb ends - 1 whole bunch) 

2 stems of fresh rosemary 

3/4 cup of red lentils (uncooked)

1 1/2 cup cauliflower puree (steamed cauliflower, garlic, salt and lemon juice see recipe here...)

5 cups of vegetable broth

Splash a bit of garlic infused grape seed oil or oil of choice in a 9 x 11, 10 in round, or 9 x 13, preheat oven to 425-450. Dump the chopped vegetables into the pan, stir well, shake a bit of sea salt over the batch. Roast for 35 - 45 minutes stirring a few times.  During the last 15 minutes place the rosemary stems on top of the dish.

Place veggie broth, cauliflower puree in a large saucepan. Mix well, Remove veggies from oven and remove the rosemary stems and discard them. Add roasted veggies (I had a few left over that I'm going to use in another dish) and lentils to the broth and puree. Simmer approximately half an hour. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Drips and Disclosure

Mini confession time. If I must. And I suppose I should. 

After I posted last week about my stuffy nose and my oregano oil death therapy cure, I called my mom. 

She said she'd read my post to my dad and he snorted. And then said, "I suppose I should tell her it comes in capsules, too." 

Yeah. Well. I had found that out when I'd run out of the liquid fire-oil and had run to the health food store to see if I could find the cure there. They had two brands of little oil filled capsules. I bought two bottles of the highest strength, highest count bottles and that didn't enter into my recounting. 

I don't have any negative feelings towards my dad for withholding that information. It's not like we've talked about oregano oil since he gave me the bottle of volcano water. 

However, I must say...four days of taking the stuff did pretty much kick most of the issues I had. I felt way more "well" taking oregano oil than over the counter stuff with the side effects and it works better than anything I've ever taken over the counter to combat gunk. Honestly, I think it's great stuff. And now, I can officially take it and have absolutely nothing to whine about (unless you'd consider the occasional pizza burp unpleasant). Which would probably make for a very boring post....hence the lack of full disclosure. 

Thanks, Dad.