Scraps and Snippets ~ Crispy Tofu, Garlic Sprouts and Curry Sweet Potato Fries ~

I usually don't make and serve slabs of tofu. Not my favorite. However, I had a package of sprouted organic tofu that needed to be used. 


I pressed, sliced and marinated it in 2 TSBP soy sauce and 2 teaspoons of sesame oil for an hour or so. 

Then I coated the tofu with a mixture of 1 TBSP sesame seeds, 1/4 cup nutritional yeast, 1 teaspoon garlic powder. (If you don't use soy sauce add 1/2 teaspoon of salt) 

I fried them in a hot pan coated with garlic infused grape seed oil until they were crispy and popped the cooked pieces into a hot oven. (425 since I was roasting brussels sprouts)

I served it with brussels sprouts that I steamed for five minutes on the stove top and then roasted for 35 minutes until the outside was crispy. I chopped a garlic clove and added some grape seed oil to the baking dish and rolled the sprouts around tip they were coated and sprinkled sea salt over the sprouts.  

The curry fries were baked on the low rack while the sprouts were roasting. I sliced a sweet potato into skinny fries. I tossed them into a ziplock and added equal amounts of garlic powder, onion powder and curry (about a teaspoon each) with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Rob requested I make the tofu again. (major shock) For dessert I made this recipe of Peanut Butter Brownies. I used agave as the sweetener. They aren't super sweet and there is a slight applesauce texture. But the dough is heavenly and baked for 18 minutes and chilled, uh, yum. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Contagious Beware

My jar cupboard.

While in Minnesota I was accused.

Let me back up a bit.  

I'm a jar collector. I don't like to toss things that can still be used in the recycle bin. And glass jars are very useful. Right? I can freeze beans in spaghetti, large jam or pickle jars. I can make up dry mixes and place them in a sharpie marked spice or olive jar. Marinades, salad dressings or sauces can be pre-mixed and put into olive or pepper jars.  

Leftovers can be sent home with people or taken to work the next day. 

Jars can even be cutesified and turned into gifts that hold loose tea, or cookies, or mixes. Yay. Jars are pretty versatile. 
 
And apparently, collecting jars is contagious. Until she started hanging out with me, Michelle didn't. 

While we were standing in her kitchen she opened a cupboard and told me she wanted to pop me one for infecting her. 

I laughed. My job here is done. Over the weekend I also caught her reusing a ziplock. (She claimed it hadn't actually been used...so it didn't count. Yeah...that's how it starts. I know this from personal experience.) 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Post Wedding Pics and Thoughts.

A friend of the family made a bride's cake and molded pinecones out of modeling
chocolate and flowers our of gum paste... it was so pretty. 

& and I made this for the wedding. She wanted a rustic/shabby chic chalkboardy
directional sign telling people where to go for different aspects. ion

They had a hot chocolate bar with add-ins; chopped white and dark chocolate,
marshmallows, candy cane and caramel. The trick was heating the chocolate. The church
had a huge commercial kitchen...(so fun and intimidating) and the hot cocoa mix needed to be
heated with whole milk and brought to hot, hot. I spent three hours mixing and heating hot
chocolate in this witch's cauldron. Seriously, it was hard not to toss in eyes and wings. This
sucker held about 7 gallons and the paddle could've propelled a small canoe across a lake.
Or actually, one paddle would've made a lovely circling action. I'm glad the lakes were frozen. 

Love these. A co-worker of the bride makes these cakes stands. 

Aneomes might be my favorite flower now. I'd forgotten how cute and sweet they are. 

Wax flowers. Too pretty.

The wedding decor was simple. The ceremony was one of the most Christ-centric ones I've ever sat through. The event was a celebration of the couple and their foundation built on Christ individually and now as a couple. It was so cool. 

We put together bouquets of fresh flowers and boutonnieres on Friday morning. A friend of the bride had some know-how and access to a florist supply shop and gave us tutorials. We then had a long period where we were just able to relax and chill. No frenetic bride or mom of bride energy. 

The theme was shabby chic elegant, and it was. Some simple chalkboard signs, a Photo Booth, a kid's table with point and shoot cameras and a list of things to shoot, a table full of cakes/desserts and a hot chocolate bar. Simple candles and single vases of flowers/greenery adorned each reception table. White lights wrapped around pillars and draped from the balcony in the sanctuary. Instead of a guest book they had a silk covered piñata ball that guests put personal notes in that will be sealed and then opened on the couple's first anniversary. The couple left to a sparkler salute. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Brides, Bridezilla's and Bridatude...

I'm in Minneapolis for a wedding. 

Not just any wedding though. This is a special one because it involves my-family-that-I-met-on-the-internet-which-has-become-pretty-much-adopted. 

So,  technically, the crazy girl walking down the aisle isn't any relation whatsoever, but she calls me Auntie and & is cousin and in my mind she is my niece. 

& is a bridesmaid and I am a crafty go-fer. Yesterday we arrived in Minneapolis, loaded vehicles, headed to the church and began to decorate. 

Now, you might imagine that tension could've been high. 

It's a huge church, so big that there is a ton of activity going on each and every day. Yesterday was no exception, several of the reception tables were occupied by students and folks doing ministry. The walk-in cooler was filled and we had to make space for the reception items. The risers that were supposed to be on the stage as part of the decoration were missing. A large plastic bin got dropped accidentally and half the vases for the centerpiece at each guest table broke. Dinner was slow in service and the activity planned for after the dinner got started late. The bride didn't react with tension to any of the issues. Not one. No tears, no huffing and puffing, no pouting. 

Last night before bed several of us were gathered around talking and she said. "This night was perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better night." 

One of the girls said. "Really?" 

And she said. "Better than I hoped. I have the best people in the world in my wedding. It was the perfect night." 

And my heart flipped a little. Because I got a little glimpse of the wife and eventual mother she is going to be and I believe there is a very, very blessed young man who will be saying "I do" in a few short hours. 

May you look beyond the details of the day that don't go according to plan and see the blessings instead. 

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.