Interesting Foods

To follow up on Captain Jinks, we can just forget about the fake cheese. It melts into a substance too rubbery. We could stir in something delicious and healthy such as spinach leaves.

On the menu lately:

1] Oatmeal And Then Some

In a mortar and with a pestle, grind up either walnuts or pecans, about a cup or so, as finely as you have patience for. Put into a ceramic bowl, add about a cup of rolled oats and about 1/4 cup raisins. Pour Silk plain soymilk over to soak for ten minutes. [Load the dishwasher or something.] Microwave about one to two minutes, covered up so it doesn't explode. Yum.

I remember about four years ago my friend Bryan trying to talk me into trying soy milk. At first I was resistant: "Why on earth would I want to try something like that?" I must have tried it enough times to get used to it, because I love it, now. The thing is, it isn't dairy milk, it doesn't taste like dairy milk, and though it can perform some of the same functions, it's better not to compare it to milk. It's just its own thing, nice and fresh and nutty. And very nutritious.

2] Coleslaw. Grate up about 1/2 cup yams [I can never use anything normal, like carrots!], about a quarter of a small head of cabbage, mix in a bowl. Stir in 1-2 tablespoons vegenaise, sprinkle in some celery seed and ground coriander, and salt to taste. Yum.

3] Peanut Spread. The Peanut Part: I now use only the peanut butter made from the grinder at Fred Meyer Nutrition Center because all it has in it is peanuts, it tastes fresh, and it doesn't separate like Adams. [At least, not if you use it up on time.]

The [oh, no!] Tofu Part: Take 1/2 package of Mori Nu extra firm tofu and suspend it in cheesecloth over a bowl so some of the excess water drips out overnight. Take the drained tofu and mash up. Stir in an equal amount fresh peanut butter. Stir in finely grated 1-2 tablespoons ginger root and some basil. [I used the basil-in-a-tube from the store. For strict vegans, it does have whey in it. So you could use fresh basil.] Stir this all together and the consistency ends up like cookie dough.

Use this as a spread for a sandwich [sliced mushrooms &/or cucumbers would have been good with this] or a spread for a wrap with vegetables instead of cream cheese or whatever. Very filling. Yum.

Captain Jinks

My mother used to repeat this rhyme, source unknown [to me, anyway]:

Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines
Fed his horse on corn and beans.

I know; I pity the troops following him and his horse.

Anyway, my mother always related this to the fact that grains and legumes together tend to make up complete proteins.

Here is my recipe for today:

Captain Jinks

Cube one cup of polenta [either home-cooked cornmeal, or a tube from the store]
layer with one cup beans such as kidney or black beans [cooked, of course]
and one cup shredded almond [omigod, a fake food!] cheese-like substance.
Place in ceramic bowl, cover and nuke.

To adapt the recipe for non-vegans, use cheddar dairy cheese.